Subject to project funding, Sitka National Historical Park is planning exterior improvements to the Visitor Center grounds and parking areas. During the year of construction, commercial transportation to the park will not be permitted. Because the timing of project funding remains uncertain, and to ensure permit holders receive at least a year's advance notice, all Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) will be limited to a maximum one‑year term until further notice. Applicants may apply for a one-year CUA each year until the year construction is scheduled to begin. During the year of construction, only non-transportation CUAs for hiking/walking will be issued.
NPS is excited to announce the development of an online CUA system designed to standardize, modernize, and streamline the CUA application process. The system allows potential CUA applicants and CUA holders to view all available CUA opportunities, apply for CUAs, submit required CUA reports (Annual Report Form 10-660), and pay CUA fees. (See notification letter for details specific to Interior Region 11 - Alaska.)
Beginning in the 2025 season, CUA applicants must use the online system to apply for a CUA in Interior Region 11 - Alaska park units.
Please note, the new system will be used in tandem with the Visitor Use Reporting System (VURn) https://irma.nps.gov/VURn/. CUA holders who apply through the new system will use that system to report the information typically collected on the Annual Report (Form 10-660). VURn will be use to enter trip details. Visit https://www.nps.gov/locations/alaska/activity-reporting.htm for detailed reporting information.
Dear Commercial Use Authorization Holders and Applicants:
In 2025, Kenai Fjords National Park will be making administrative changes to the Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program.
Public Law 105-391 and NPS policy require the Superintendent to charge a reasonable fee “to recover associated management and administrative costs” for CUAs. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-25 defines reasonable fee as either “market price” or “cost recovery”. Both fee collection methods are described in detail in OMB Circular A-25.
Kenai Fjords currently only charges a nominal Management Fee that is not adequately recovering program costs as required by law. Beginning January 1, 2025, Kenai Fjords National Park will change to the cost recovery model under which a daily user fee will be charged for services conducted within Kenai Fjords National Park. This Monitoring Fee will be assessed at $6.00 per visitor per day for all approved commercial activities. CUA holder employees are excluded from the visitor use fee calculation. There will no longer be a Management Fee due when applying for a CUA.
Important CUA program reminders:
Applications
Application period
Thank you for your involvement in this program and for providing our visitors with meaningful experiences in the park. If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact the park at 907-422-0500.
Sincerely,
John Carroll
Superintendent
Kenai Fjords National Park
In 2025, Kenai Fjords National Park will be making administrative changes to the Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program.
Public Law 105-391 and NPS policy require the Superintendent to charge a reasonable fee “to recover associated management and administrative costs” for CUAs. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-25 defines reasonable fee as either “market price” or “cost recovery”. Both fee collection methods are described in detail in OMB Circular A-25.
Kenai Fjords currently only charges a nominal Management Fee that is not adequately recovering program costs as required by law. Beginning January 1, 2025, Kenai Fjords National Park will change to the cost recovery model under which a daily user fee will be charged for services conducted within Kenai Fjords National Park. This Monitoring Fee will be assessed at $6.00 per visitor per day for all approved commercial activities. CUA holder employees are excluded from the visitor use fee calculation. There will no longer be a Management Fee due when applying for a CUA.
Important CUA program reminders:
Applications
Applications will continue to be submitted through the Alaska Regional Office. Beginning on November 1, 2024, all CUA applications for National Park units in Alaska will be processed through the CUA Online Application and Reporting System (https://cua.nps.gov). Visit https://www.nps.gov/locations/alaska/commercial-authorizations.htm for details.
Application period
The application period for all CUAs in the Alaska Region is November 1 to April 30 with the exception of Road Based Winter Vehicle Tours (year-round) at Denali. CUA applications received after the deadline may not be accepted.
Thank you for your involvement in this program and for providing our visitors with meaningful experiences in the park. If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact the park at 907-422-0500.
Sincerely,
John Carroll
Superintendent
Kenai Fjords National Park
Dear Commercial Use Authorization Holders and Applicants:
Beginning in the 2023 season, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve will increase the Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) Monitoring Fee to better reflect the true cost of administering our commercial services program as required by law. We are phasing the increase over several years to give you time to plan for and implement the changes.
This is the park's first increase to its monitoring fee since 2003. Public Law 105-391 and NPS policy require the Superintendent to charge a reasonable fee “to recover associated management and administrative costs” for CUAs and review the fee every two years. The fee allows the park to recover the actual costs incurred in support of the CUA program, monitoring, clean up, and restoration to resources following the CUA activities. It also applies to day-to-day monitoring to enforce park regulations and to any equipment and materials needed for the management of the CUA program.
An annual review of costs will be implemented to ensure fees are commiserate with costs after the initial three-year fee increase. The monitoring fee schedule is shown below. The monitoring fee is due no later than November 15th for the reporting year.
We recognize the strong partnership the park has with commercial operators bringing visitors to the park. We look forward to building on that strength as visitation increases to ensure park resources and visitor safety are protected. If you have any questions about the CUA program or this fee change, please contact our Concessions Management Specialist Alex Maki at alexandra_maki@nps.gov or 907-683-9553.
Sincerely,
Susanne Fleek-Green Superintendent
Beginning in the 2023 season, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve will increase the Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) Monitoring Fee to better reflect the true cost of administering our commercial services program as required by law. We are phasing the increase over several years to give you time to plan for and implement the changes.
This is the park's first increase to its monitoring fee since 2003. Public Law 105-391 and NPS policy require the Superintendent to charge a reasonable fee “to recover associated management and administrative costs” for CUAs and review the fee every two years. The fee allows the park to recover the actual costs incurred in support of the CUA program, monitoring, clean up, and restoration to resources following the CUA activities. It also applies to day-to-day monitoring to enforce park regulations and to any equipment and materials needed for the management of the CUA program.
An annual review of costs will be implemented to ensure fees are commiserate with costs after the initial three-year fee increase. The monitoring fee schedule is shown below. The monitoring fee is due no later than November 15th for the reporting year.
| Monitoring Fee | 2022 Reporting Season | 2023 Reporting Season | 2024 Reporting Season | 2025 Reporting Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Person, Per Day (excludes guides) | $6 | $10 | $12 | $15 |
We recognize the strong partnership the park has with commercial operators bringing visitors to the park. We look forward to building on that strength as visitation increases to ensure park resources and visitor safety are protected. If you have any questions about the CUA program or this fee change, please contact our Concessions Management Specialist Alex Maki at alexandra_maki@nps.gov or 907-683-9553.
Sincerely,
Susanne Fleek-Green Superintendent
Dear Partners:
Beginning January 1, 2024, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve (WRST) will implement a cost recovery method under which a daily Monitoring Fee will be charged for Visitor Experience services. As noted in the memo dated, May 1, 2023, Public Law 105-391 and NPS policy require Superintendents to charge a reasonable fee “to recover associated management and administrative costs” for CUAs. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-25 defines reasonable fee as either “market price” or “cost recovery”. Both fee collection methods are described in detail in OMB Circular A-25.
A Monitoring Fee of $5.00 will be assessed per visitor per day. CUA holder employees on duty are excluded from the visitor use fee calculation. The park wide CUA Management Fee of $100 dollars per year of the authorization is not applicable to Visitor Experience applicants or CUA holders providing only Visitor Experience services.
Commercial Visitor Experience groups of two or more people must have a valid Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) to provide Visitor Experience services in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve (WRST) as required by Title 36, Section 5.3 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Operating commercially without a valid CUA is a violation which may result in a citation and could impact future commercial opportunities at National Park Service (NPS) units in Alaska. For details refer to the Region 11 Suspension, Restriction, Revocation, and Denial Policy at https://www.nps.gov/locations/alaska/revo.htm
Visitor Experience is defined as the road-based transportation of passengers and commercial group use of visitor services including comfort stations; trails; film showings; ranger programs; and exhibits. The activity includes guided and unguided visitor experiences at the Copper Center Visitor Center Complex.
To apply for a Visitor Experience CUA:
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Jan Maslen at 907-822-7206 or jan_maslen@nps.gov
Thank you for your involvement in our program and for providing our visitors with meaningful experiences in the park.
Sincerely,
Ben Bobowski
Superintendent
Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Beginning January 1, 2024, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve (WRST) will implement a cost recovery method under which a daily Monitoring Fee will be charged for Visitor Experience services. As noted in the memo dated, May 1, 2023, Public Law 105-391 and NPS policy require Superintendents to charge a reasonable fee “to recover associated management and administrative costs” for CUAs. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-25 defines reasonable fee as either “market price” or “cost recovery”. Both fee collection methods are described in detail in OMB Circular A-25.
A Monitoring Fee of $5.00 will be assessed per visitor per day. CUA holder employees on duty are excluded from the visitor use fee calculation. The park wide CUA Management Fee of $100 dollars per year of the authorization is not applicable to Visitor Experience applicants or CUA holders providing only Visitor Experience services.
Commercial Visitor Experience groups of two or more people must have a valid Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) to provide Visitor Experience services in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve (WRST) as required by Title 36, Section 5.3 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Operating commercially without a valid CUA is a violation which may result in a citation and could impact future commercial opportunities at National Park Service (NPS) units in Alaska. For details refer to the Region 11 Suspension, Restriction, Revocation, and Denial Policy at https://www.nps.gov/locations/alaska/revo.htm
Visitor Experience is defined as the road-based transportation of passengers and commercial group use of visitor services including comfort stations; trails; film showings; ranger programs; and exhibits. The activity includes guided and unguided visitor experiences at the Copper Center Visitor Center Complex.
To apply for a Visitor Experience CUA:
• Download the 2024-2025 CUA application package, available at https://www.nps.gov/locations/alaska/commercial-authorizations.htm
• Submit a complete application package as outlined in the application instructions.
Operators providing the Visitor Experience activity, as defined above, must have commercial auto insurance, and may need commercial general liability insurance if accompanying visitors on lands administered by the National Park Service.• Submit a complete application package as outlined in the application instructions.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Jan Maslen at 907-822-7206 or jan_maslen@nps.gov
Thank you for your involvement in our program and for providing our visitors with meaningful experiences in the park.
Sincerely,
Ben Bobowski
Superintendent
Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Beginning in the 2023 operating and reporting season, Katmai National Park and Preserve is increasing the Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) Monitoring Fees to better reflect the true cost of administering our commercial services program, as required by law. The increase will impact the Monitoring Fees for those commercial activities that take place in the Brooks Camp Developed Area (BCDA) portion of Katmai National Park as well as the Monitoring Fees for all other areas of Katmai National Park and Preserve (KATM), Alagnak Wild River (ALAG), and Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve (ANIA). The BCDA is defined as a 1.5-mile radius from the Brooks Falls Platform. A map of the area that is defined as the BCDA can be found at www.nps.gov/katm/planyourvisit/campingbcdv.htm.
Public Law 105-391 and NPS policy require the Superintendent to charge a reasonable fee “to recover associated management and administrative costs” for CUAs and review the fee every two years. The fees allow the park to recover the actual costs incurred in support of the CUA program, monitoring, clean up, and restoration to resources following the CUA activities. These funds can also be utilized for the day-to-day monitoring that occurs to enforce park regulations and for any equipment and materials needed for the management of the CUA program.
This is the park's first increase to its Monitoring Fees since 2003 and will bring fees in line with the current staffing and material costs that support the commercial services program. The increases to Monitoring Fees will be phased in over two years with the first increases to go into effect for the 2023 operating and reporting season. Following the implementation of the new fee structure, Monitoring Fees will be reviewed every other year to remain in compliance with law and policy.
Monitoring Fees are calculated using a per person, per day methodology. CUA staff included within the group are excluded when calculating Monitoring Fees. If the same client visits both the BCDA and any other locations within KATM on the same day with the same CUA holder, only the BCDA Monitoring Fee will be collected. Monitoring Fees are due no later than November 15th for the reporting year. Below is the phased fee structure that will be implemented:
We recognize the strong partnership the park has with its commercial operators and look forward to building on that strength as visitation increases to ensure park resources and visitor safety are protected. Questions about the CUA program or this fee change should be directed to Commercial Services Program Manager, Alex Maki, at e-mail us or 907-644-3362.
Public Law 105-391 and NPS policy require the Superintendent to charge a reasonable fee “to recover associated management and administrative costs” for CUAs and review the fee every two years. The fees allow the park to recover the actual costs incurred in support of the CUA program, monitoring, clean up, and restoration to resources following the CUA activities. These funds can also be utilized for the day-to-day monitoring that occurs to enforce park regulations and for any equipment and materials needed for the management of the CUA program.
This is the park's first increase to its Monitoring Fees since 2003 and will bring fees in line with the current staffing and material costs that support the commercial services program. The increases to Monitoring Fees will be phased in over two years with the first increases to go into effect for the 2023 operating and reporting season. Following the implementation of the new fee structure, Monitoring Fees will be reviewed every other year to remain in compliance with law and policy.
Monitoring Fees are calculated using a per person, per day methodology. CUA staff included within the group are excluded when calculating Monitoring Fees. If the same client visits both the BCDA and any other locations within KATM on the same day with the same CUA holder, only the BCDA Monitoring Fee will be collected. Monitoring Fees are due no later than November 15th for the reporting year. Below is the phased fee structure that will be implemented:
| CUA Monitoring Fee | Brooks Camp Developed Area (within KATM) |
All Other Areas of KATM, ALAG, and ANIA |
| 2022 Reporting Season | $14.00 | $6.00 |
| 2023 Reporting Season | $23.00 | $10.00 |
| 2024 Reporting Season | $30.00 | $15.00 |
We recognize the strong partnership the park has with its commercial operators and look forward to building on that strength as visitation increases to ensure park resources and visitor safety are protected. Questions about the CUA program or this fee change should be directed to Commercial Services Program Manager, Alex Maki, at e-mail us or 907-644-3362.
Last updated: February 11, 2026