National Forest Homeowners

NFH Facts

National Forest cabin owners provide a positive economic and environmental impact to the National Forests.

Reserving Your Rights

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THOSE SIGNING NEW PERMITS

For those of you signing new permits, you will notice a lot of new language. Many are caught between the desire to sign their new permit and have the process completed, and the desire to contest some of the provisions. Many of the additions are just the rewording of something that already applied in our previous permits. Some are not.

Of particular concern is a provision in the new permits that allows the Forest Service to fill in a new base fee. Some Forests have filled in this provision with a number and some have not. While we are contesting these fees and the way they were determined, we do not want to leave the impression that we are waiving our rights to contest the fees by signing the permits. So we have prepared sample letters for you to use, reserving your rights.

These letters can either be sent with your permit and fee or sent afterward to reserve your rights. They can be found at this (link).

NFH LogoCABIN OWNER VOICES ARE BEING HEARD

            Fee relief efforts are beginning to show some promise. We are obtaining strong Congressional support for a moratorium on 2009 fee increases. The Forest Service has been asked to suspend large fee increases that are scheduled to go into effect in January. Last minute communications with the Forest Service raise the possibility that the fee proviso in your permit and the resulting billing may turn out to be incorrect. This presents many cabin owners with a dilemma. You are told that you must sign and return your permit by a deadline, usually before the end of the year, in order to continue to enjoy your use permit. Additionally, you will receive a corresponding billing for your yearly fee with an impending due date, commonly January 1. The question arises, in doing so are you locked into the stated fees even though fee relief may arrive shortly after the due date?
            We recommend that you read your new permit carefully. It is likely to provide for a grace period of 30 days after the due date during which your payment will not be considered delinquent.. If so, you may wish to delay payment and take advantage of the grace period to see what has been resolved regarding a suspension or reduction of fees. Secondly, to protect your rights to future fee relief you may wish to forward to the Forest Service a letter stating that by signing your permit as required you are not waiving your rights to future rights and benefits that may arise including those pertaining to appraisals and fee relief. Form letters are provided as a link to this web site for your use. This letter can accompany the signed permit or be sent separately to the Forest Service official who signed your permit.
            We will endeavor to keep you apprised of developments. This website is an excellent way to do this.

Sincerely,

Geoff Anderson
President, National Forest Homeowners



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