183 



4 



1 health and stabihty of ski areas and associated com- 



2 munities. 



3 (8) The National Forest Ski Area Permit Act 



4 of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b) has been of assistance to 



5 ski area operations on National Forest System lands 



6 by providing longer term lease tenure and contrac- 



7 tual stability to ski area permittees, but further ad- 



8 justments and policy direction are warranted to ad- 



9 dress problems related to permit fees and fee cal- 



10 culations and conflicts with certain mineral activi- 



1 1 ties. 



12 (b) Purpose. — In light of the findings specified in 



13 subsection (a), it is the purpose of this Act — 



14 (1) to legislate a ski area permit fee that re- 



15 turns fair market value to the United States and at 



16 the same time — 



17 (A) provides ski area permittees and the 



18 United States with a simplified, consistent, pre- 



19 dictable, and equitable fee formula that is com- 



20 mensurate with long-term planning, financing, 



21 and operational needs of ski areas; and 



22 (B) simplifies bookkeeping and other ad- 



23 ministrative burdens on ski area permittees and 



24 Forest Service personnel; and 



