San Diego, CA (June 28, 2016) –To implement a settlement reached by plaintiffs and the U.S. Forest Service, a district court has vacated a 2014 ruling that affected the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to enforce recreation fees at standard amenity recreation fee sites in the Los Padres, Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland National Forests in southern California. On May 19, 2016, the district court granted a joint motion by the plaintiffs and the U.S. Forest Service to accept the settlement agreement, which resulted in the 2014 judgment being vacated.

Standard amenity recreation fee sites provide amenities such as designated developed parking, picnic tables, toilet facilities, security, interpretive signs and trash receptacles for public use. Under the settlement agreement, the U.S. Forest Service will continue to enforce recreation fees at standard amenity recreation fee sites.

Forest visitors parked in standard amenity recreation fee sites in the four southern California national forests must display a valid recreation pass. Information on valid recreation passes, such as the Adventure Pass and the America the Beautiful–the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, can be found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r5/passes-permits/recreation.

Visitors do not have to display a valid recreation pass if they park outside these sites.