Commercial Use Authorizations

 

The National Park Service issues Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) to allow individuals, corporations, or other entities to provide appropriate commercial services in parks. The term of a CUA may not exceed two years. CUAs are not concessions contracts and are not transferrable.

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve currently issues CUAs for the following activities:

• Rock climbing services
• Bicycle tours
• Hiking tours
• Swiftwater rescue training
• Photography/art workshops
• Environmental Education/Birding workshops
• Shuttle Services
• Event Services
• 4x4 ATV Tours

What do the law and regulations say about CUAs?

PL 105-391, Section 418 and 36 CFR 5.3 require NPS issue and charge a reasonable fee for CUAs. The law requires that National Park Service (NPS) ensure CUAs:

• Are accomplished in a manner consistent to the highest practicable degree with the preservation and conservation of park resources and values;
• Are consistent with the purpose for which the Park was established;
• Comply with all applicable management plans, park policies and regulations;
• Are subjects to conditions promoting the safety of visitors;
• Limit the liability of the United States Government;
• Are subject to a reasonable fee that at a minimum recovers administrative and management costs of the CUA.

Types of CUAs:

In-park services refer to an operation with annual gross receipts of not more than $25,000 from commercial services originating and provided solely within a park area.

Out-of-park services refer to the incidental use of park area resources by operations that provide commercial services originating and terminating outside of the park area. A CUA of this type does not authorize solicitation of customers, sales or payment for commercial services to take place within the park area – all of these activities must occur outside of the park area. Unlike a CUA for in-park services, there is no cap on the annual gross receipts that may be generated by the authorized services under an out-of-park CUA.

CUA Fees

Application FeeThe application fee for a one-year Commercial Use Authorization is $350 plus an administrative fee of $50.

Management FeeIn addition to application fees, the park may also collect a management fee. A management fee allows the park to recover costs associated with managing and monitoring your CUA. This fee varies based on the level of management required for your CUA.

Commercial Whitewater and Outfitter Licensing:Regulations governing licensing of commercial whitewater outfitters on the Gauley, Bluestone, and New Rivers in West Virginia have been established by the State of West Virginia and by its department of commerce and division of national resources. For more information, please visit https://whitewater.wvdnr.gov/.

If you are interested in obtaining more information for a general Outfitter & Guide License to conduct fishing trips within the parks, please visit: http://www.wvdnr.gov/LEnforce/Guide.shtm.

Where can I get more information?You can find more information about Commercial Use Authorizations in the National Park Service here.

Commercial Use Authorizations are accepted online only at the following website: Home - Commercial Use Authorization (nps.gov). Check out the following video for more information. Video (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

If you still have questions, contact the office of the Program Specialist for Commercial/Special Park Uses at 304-465-6531or email [e-mail].