Photo by Steve De Neef.
Isle Royale National Park News Release Release Date: December 15, 2020 Contact: Melissa Ledbury ISRO_CUA_SUP@nps.gov 906-275-9617
St Paul, Minn – Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA) are a permitting tool used by the National Park Service (NPS) to allow private business to be conducted within a national park for up to 2 years. The type of service provided by a CUA holder must be considered appropriate by the NPS, such as chartered fishing trips and various types of guiding services. Operators are held to specific standards to assure client safety and the protection of cultural and natural resources. Because of these high standards, Isle Royale National Park has new requirements for services provided by commercial operators as stipulated in the CUA application form (10-550).
Isle Royale National Park now offers one or two-year CUAs in an effort to reduce the administrative burden for commercial operators and NPS staff. Applications are accepted between January 2nd and May 15th, annually. Application forms, with instructions, can be obtained at, https://www.nps.gov/isro/learn/management/commercial-use-authorizations.htm. Application packets may also be requested through the contact information provided above.
Other changes to the CUA program include an increased application fee, as required by Public Law 105-391, Section 418. This law requires the National Park Service to collect a reasonable fee for CUAs at an amount at least sufficient to recover the costs to administer and manage the CUA program. A 2-year CUA application fee is $600 and a 1-year CUA application fee is $500. Application fees are non-refundable and can be paid by check mailed to Isle Royale National Park at the address above, or by credit card. Credit card payment may be made by calling the park Visitor Center at 906-482-0984 Monday through Friday.
Two-year CUAs are available only to returning operators who are applying for an approved service type. If you have a business idea that is not already included in Isle Royale’s list of approved service types (found on the application form), or if you are a new operator to the park, you will only be eligible for a 1-year CUA.
If you applied for a CUA in 2020 and paid an application fee but were unable to operate in the park due to COVID-19, additional information regarding transfer of application fees and application requirements will be sent to the email address that you have previously provided.
Safety concerns surrounding COVID-19 will still impact operations in 2021 in this remote wilderness park. The CUA Administrator will be in close contact with all CUA applicants to communicate anticipated changes to park operations. Additionally, please monitor https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/conditions.htm and www.nps.gov/coronavirus for up-to-date information.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.