Date: September 21, 2007
Contact: Bob DeGross, 239-695-1107
Contact: Ed Clark, 239-695-1108
Everglades, Dry Tortugas, and Biscayne National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida announce implementation of a standard application fee for special use permits and film permits that will be charged at each of the four parks.
At each location, a consistent, non-refundable fee will be collected with every special use permit application, including those for commercial filming. Other park-specific fees, such as fees for a permit, monitoring, location, or facility-use, may also apply. These additional fees are based on actual costs incurred by the National Park Service for private or commercial events in the parks.
All National Park Service lands require a special use permit for a variety of special uses of the park including any special event or activity that "…provides a benefit to an individual, group or organization rather than the public at large, and requires written authorization and some degree of management control from the NPS in order to protect park resources and the public interest" (Director’s Order #53: Special Park Uses). These activities include, but are not limited to, weddings, birthday parties, organized group campouts, bike rides, first amendment activities, ceremonies, and non-profit group activities.
Film permits are a type of special use that requires detailed information in an application for any commercial filming and still photography. To recover the costs of administering the permit program, a $100.00 non-refundable application fee, currently in place at Biscayne National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, will now be collected at Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks for these special use permits beginning December 1, 2007.
For more information, please contact the following park permit program coordinators:
Big Cypress National Preserve – Ed Clark 239-695-1108
Biscayne National Park – Maria Rodriguez 305-230-1144 X -3074
Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks - Skaidra Kempkowski 305-242-7732
