Commercial Use Authorization Suspension, Restriction, Revocation, and Application Denial Policy

Effective Date: May 19, 2025

Authority

• 54 United States Code (USC) 101925
• 36 CFR Section 1.6 (g) and Section 5.3

Purpose

This policy memorandum is intended to provide guidance regarding the actions taken in the event of a permittee violation (as defined in this policy). The Superintendent, at his or her discretion, may take actions other than those identified and retains the authority to immediately suspend, restrict or revoke a CUA or deny a future CUA application for reasons not covered in this policy memorandum.

Definitions

• Holder/Owner - a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, or corporation including corporate officers and those shareholders who have a controlling interest in a corporation which has applied for or received a CUA.
• Employee - a person in the service of the Holder/Owner under any contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written, where the Holder/Owner has the power or right to control and direct the Employee in the work performed.
• Violations - Payment of collateral, an accepted plea of nolo contendere, or a conviction in Federal or State court where a nexus exists between the offense and the business activity authorized, regardless of whether the violation occurred in a unit of the National Park System; failure to comply with the provisions and conditions of the CUA; or failure to adequately address material and documented operational concerns expressed by the National Park Service.

Permit Conditions Related to Termination or Revocation

Authority to terminate or revoke a permit is provided for via CUA application and authorization condition #12¹ and the signed statement on both. Failure on the part of the permittee to abide by the provisions of the permit is citable under 36 CFR Section 1.6 (g) and Section 5.3. and may result in CUA suspension, restriction, revocation or denial.

Suspension, Restriction and Revocation

A CUA may be suspended, restricted, or revoked when the Holder/Owner or Employee commits a violation as defined above. The Superintendent will determine the appropriate administrative action regarding the violation based on the totality of the circumstances, including consideration of prior relevant violations. The following table provides a general guideline.

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¹ Conditions of this Authorization Item #12: This authorization may be suspended or revoked upon breach of any of the conditions herein or at the discretion of the park area Superintendent

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Violation	Action by the Superintendent
First Violation	A written warning (email and/or formal letter) at a minimum. May include a 30- day period of CUA suspension or restriction depending upon the violation and the company’s cumulative history
Second Violation within a two-year period	CUA restriction or suspension for a minimum of 30 operating days and up to a maximum of 90 operating days. The restriction may continue into the next operating season and CUA applications for the next season/calendar year may be denied until the term of the suspension is met.
Third Violation	May include CUA revocation for the remaining operating season and subsequent application denial for the next three operating seasons.

 

A CUA may also be suspended or restricted when the Holder/Owner or Employee is under investigation or is charged for a felony criminal offense by state or federal authorities if a nexus exists between the offense and the authorized business activity, the safety of Park visitors, or the preservation and protection of Park resources and values, regardless of whether the offense occurred in a unit of the National Park System. A CUA may be reinstated, or restriction lifted as a result of the final adjudication.

CUA Application Denial

An application for a CUA may be denied if the Holder/Owner or any of the Holder/Owner’s current or proposed Employees committed a violation, as defined above, within three years of the date of application. Applicants denied a CUA due to previous violations may reapply at any time but are subject to an additional nonrefundable application fee.

Notification Process

If a Holder/Owner or any of the Holder/Owner’s current Employees has committed a violation, the Superintendent or his/her designee may:

1. Notify the Holder/Owner of the violation in writing as soon as appropriate. This notification may include immediate suspension or restriction of the CUA. It is in the best interest of the National Park Service and the Holder/Owner that the Holder/Owner be made aware of the violation and, if deemed appropriate, be given an opportunity to take corrective action to avoid future violations and provide an explanation of the circumstances leading to the violation.
2. Notify the Holder/Owner in writing of the final administrative action including, but not limited to, suspension, restriction, revocation or denial of a future CUA or other National Park Serviceissued permits. The Holder/Owner will also be notified of their right to appeal.
3. Notify the Southeast Region and Washington Office CUA Coordinators as appropriate.

Appeal Process

An appeal of the action may be made to the Superintendent in writing within 30 days of the action. Appeals must set forth the facts and circumstances the Holder/Owner believes support the appeal. The Holder/Owner may request a meeting to discuss the appeal with the Superintendent or his/her representative. The Superintendent may affirm, reverse, or modify the decision appealed and will set forth in writing the basis of the decision after considering the materials submitted by the Holder/Owner and the National Park Service record of the matter, and after the meeting with the Holder/Owner if the Holder/Owner requested a meeting. A copy of the final decision will be forwarded to the Holder/Owner.