55 



tract is likely to be a thing of the past. However, terms longer than 

 10 years may continue to be necessary depending on investment re- 

 quired. 



We are also prepared to endorse a renewal preference which is 

 based upon evaluations and which awards additional points to the 

 incumbent during the bidding process if the incumbent has met 

 certain performance goals. 



We hope, Mr. Chairman, that H.R. 2028 when it is passed will 

 accomplish the goals which I have outlined. If it does, you will have 

 the hardy endorsement of our industry, and you will have taken a 

 major step toward guaranteeing quality visitor services on our Fed- 

 eral lands for the future. Thank you. 



Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Mr. Nielsen. As you can see, we have 

 a vote on. Mr. Henderson, we probably have time till the second 

 bell to hear your testimony so we will turn the time over to you 

 at which time we will recess for a vote, and we will be right back 

 if that is all right with you other gentlemen. 



STATEMENT OF CHAD HENDERSON, PUBLIC POLICY 

 MANAGER, THE NATIONAL OUTDOORS LEADERSHIP SCHOOL 



Mr. Henderson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the 

 privilege of addressing the subcommittee today regarding conces- 

 sion reform. My name is Chad Henderson, and I am the Public Pol- 

 icy Manager for the National Outdoor Leadership School, also 

 known as NOLS. You have my written testimony in front of you, 

 and I will summarize my comments. 



NOLS operates throughout the West and teaches outdoor skills, 

 leadership, and ethics to over 2,600 students each year on extended 

 backcountry expeditions. NOLS is a non-profit organization with 

 headquarters in Wyoming, and we employ over 500 staff at our 

 eight branches worldwide and have annual revenues that exceed 

 $12 million. Our courses travel in 19 national parks, 21 national 

 forests, three national wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Man- 

 agement lands in eight western States. 



NOLS has three concessions: mountaineering in Denali National 

 Park, river running in Dinosaur National Monument, and 

 backcountry skiing in Grand Teton National Park. Additionally, we 

 have over 50 permits used to access a variety of other Federal 

 lands. Thirty years of complying with this dazzling variety of per- 

 mits proves there is plenty of room for reform. Reform can assure 

 that concessions provide quality recreation services to the public 

 while conserving our remarkable natural resources. 



Reform is needed for many reasons. Current law, regulation, and 

 customary practice confound the interests of providing reliable, and 

 economically viable, high quality recreational and educational serv- 

 ices to the public. Even within a single agency, we find a wide vari- 

 ety of permit mechanisms applied to our use; use which is gen- 

 erally similar in type and scope from park to park or from forest 

 to forest. 



Concession managers have varying degrees of knowledge about 

 permit administration, and some lack an appreciation of what it 

 takes to support a successful private enterprise. In some cases, the 

 permittees themselves do not engender trust or understanding be- 

 tween us and the agency, such as the absence of clear regulatory 



