224 



Each of the bills now before this Subcommittee proposes 

 changes to current concessions policies and practices. Overall, 

 the changes proposed in these bills are consistent with our past 

 work and findings, and we therefore support their objectives. 



Mr. Chairman, before providing the details, I would like to 

 note that concessioners play a vital role in enhancing the public's 

 enjoyment of the national parks, forests, and other recreation 

 areas. At the same time, the agencies managing the concessioners 

 have an obligation to ensure not only that these concessioners 

 provide healthy and safe services to the public but also that the 

 government receives a fair return for the use of its lands and that 

 the nation's natural resources are adequately conserved so that 

 they can be enjoyed in the future. 



I will first describe our earlier work on concessions and then 

 provide our views on the four proposed bills. 



CONCESSIONS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 

 ARE DERIVED FROM 11 DIFFERENT LAWS 



As we reported in June 1991,^ no single law authorizes 

 concessions operations for all six agencies. Rather, at least 11 

 different laws govern concessions operations. Many of these laws 

 are specific to an agency and allow the agency broad discretion in 

 establishing policies on the terms and conditions of concessions 

 agreements and on the associated fees, among other things. 



With the exception of the Concessions Policy Act of 1965, 

 which prescribes Park Service policy for several key terms and 

 conditions in concessions agreements, the laws allow the agencies 

 wide discretion in establishing concessions policies. As a result. 



^ Federal Lands: Improvements Needed in Managing Concessioners 

 (GAO/RCED-91-163, June 11, 1991). 



