FS-2700-New4 (FS-2 Category 5 Master Cost Recovery Agreement

FS-2700-26b (Rev 03/06)
USDA Forest Service
CATEGORY 5 MASTER COST RECOVERY AGREEMENT
Between
USDA, FOREST SERVICE, [name] National Forest,
and [name of applicant]

This agreement is entered into between the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOREST
SERVICE, [name] National Forest (the Forest Service), and the [name of entity or individual] (the applicant) under
36 CFR 251.58.
A. RECITALS
1. On [date], the Forest Service accepted the applicant’s applications for use and occupancy of National Forest
System lands (hereinafter “the applications”), which are enumerated in Appendix A. The Forest Service shall
assess the applicant a cost recovery fee for the agency’s costs to process the applications.
2. The proposed use involves multiple phases of development or the applicant has submitted a group of
applications or similar applications for a specified geographic area. Therefore, the fee for processing the
applications falls within category 5 under the applicable Forest Service processing fee schedule and/or the fee for
monitoring the applicant’s special use authorizations falls within category 5 under the applicable Forest Service
monitoring fee schedule.

3. A group of special use authorizations for a specified geographic area (hereinafter “the authorizations”) may be
issued to the applicant. The authorizations are enumerated in Appendix A and subject to assessment of
monitoring fees by the Forest Service.
4. The geographic area to be covered by this agreement is [describe geographic area]. See Appendix B.
5. In signing a master agreement for a major category application submitted or authorization issued under
authorities other than the Mineral Leasing Act, the applicant waives the right to request a reduction of the
processing or monitoring fee based upon the reasonableness factors in 36 CFR 251.58(c)(1)(ii)(A) or (d)(1)(ii)(A).
Therefore, the Forest Service is entitled to recover its full actual costs for all major category applications or
authorizations covered by this master agreement.

6. Payment of a processing fee by the applicant does not obligate the Forest Service to authorize the applicant’s
proposed use and occupancy. If a major category application is denied or withdrawn in writing, the applicant is
responsible for costs incurred by the Forest Service in processing the application up to and including the date the
agency denies the application or receives written notice of the applicant’s withdrawal. If the applicant withdraws a
major category application, the applicant also is responsible for any costs subsequently incurred by the Forest
Service in terminating consideration of the application.

7. The Forest Service shall determine the appropriate level of environmental analysis for each application which
is enumerated in Appendix D and inform the applicant prior to initiating the environmental analysis.
8. Information associated with this agreement may be released to the public in accordance with the provisions of
the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act.

PART I – PROCESSING FEES
B. BASIS FOR PROCESSING FEES
Processing fees for the applications are based upon the direct and indirect costs that the Forest
Service incurs in reviewing the applications, conducting environmental analyses of the effects of the proposed
use, reviewing any applicant-generated environmental documents and studies, conducting site visits, evaluating
the applicant’s technical and financial qualifications, making a decision on whether to issue the authorizations,
and preparing documentation of analyses, decisions, and authorizations for the applications. The processing fee
for the applications shall be based only on costs that are necessary for processing the applications. “Necessary
for” means that but for the applications, the costs would not have been incurred. The processing fee shall not
include costs for studies for programmatic planning or analysis or other agency management objectives, unless
they are necessary for processing the applications. Proportional costs for analyses, such as capacity studies, that
are necessary for the applications may be included in the processing fee.
C. AGREEMENT
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties agree as follows:
1. Scope of Work. The Forest Service shall develop a scope of work for processing the applications and an
estimate of the agency’s costs to process the applications, which will be incorporated into this agreement as
Appendix D. This scope of work shall report direct costs in categories that correspond to those in the agency’s
accounting system, e.g., job code, personnel compensation based upon the cost to the government (salary and
benefits), travel, and other direct services, materials, and supplies. In addition, the estimate of the agency’s
processing costs shall include the agency’s indirect costs based upon the approved annual indirect cost rate.
Classification of costs as direct or indirect shall be in accordance with the published Forest Service budget for the
applicable fiscal year.
2. Environmental Analysis. The Forest Service shall supervise the preparation of the environmental analysis
associated with the applications in compliance with applicable legal requirements, including public review of the
analysis, analysis of public comments, and decision documentation. In exercising this responsibility, the Forest
Service shall endeavor to foster cooperation among other agencies involved in the process, and to integrate
National Environmental Policy Act requirements and other environmental review and consultation requirements to
avoid, to the fullest extent possible, duplication of efforts by those agencies. However, the Forest Service shall
not delegate to any other agency its authority over the scope and content of the environmental analysis, or
approval or denial of the applications.

3. Billing. The Forest Service shall bill the applicant prior to commencement of work. The applicant agrees to
pay the estimated processing fee of $_____. The bill for the estimated processing fee is attached.

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4. Payment. The applicant shall pay the estimated processing fee within 30 days of the date the bill for the fee
was issued. The Forest Service shall not initiate processing the application until the estimated processing fee is
paid. If the applicant fails to pay the estimated processing fee or the fee is late, the Forest Service shall cease
processing the application until the fee is paid.

3. Billing. The Forest Service shall bill the applicant prior to commencement of work. The applicant agrees to
pay the initial estimated processing fee of $_____ and a subsequent [monthly or quarterly] estimated processing
fee of $_____, for a total of $_____. The initial bill for the estimated processing fee is attached.
4. Payment. The applicant shall pay the initial estimated processing fee and any subsequent estimated
processing fee within 30 days of the date the bill for the fee was issued. The Forest Service shall not initiate
processing the application until the initial estimated processing fee is paid. If the applicant fails to pay the initial or
any subsequent estimated processing fee or the fee is late, the Forest Service shall cease processing the
application until the fee is paid.

5. Statement of Costs. The Forest Service shall [annually or upon completion of the project] report costs
incurred for processing the applications by providing a financial statement from the agency’s accounting system to
the applicant.

6. Underpayment. When the estimated processing costs are lower than the final processing costs for the
applications, the applicant shall pay the difference between the estimated and final processing costs within 30
days of billing.
7. Overpayment. If payment of the processing fee exceeds the Forest Service’s final processing costs for the
applications, the Forest Service shall either (a) refund the excess payment to the applicant or, (b), at the
applicant’s request, shall credit it towards monitoring fees due.
8.

Disputes

a. If the applicant disagrees with the processing fee category assigned for a minor category or, in the case of a
major processing category, with the estimated dollar amount of the processing costs, the applicant may submit a
written request before the disputed fee is due for substitution of an alternative fee category or alternative
estimated costs to the immediate supervisor of the authorized officer who determined the fee category or
estimated costs. The written request must include supporting documentation.
b. If the applicant pays the full disputed processing fee, the Forest Service shall continue to process the
applications during the supervisory officer’s review of the disputed fee, unless the applicant requests that the
application processing cease.
c. If the applicant fails to pay the full disputed processing fee, the Forest Service shall suspend further
processing of the application pending the supervisory officer’s determination of an appropriate processing fee and
the applicant’s payment of that fee.
d. The authorized officer’s immediate supervisor shall render a decision on a disputed processing fee within 30
calendar days of receipt of the written request from the applicant. The supervisory officer’s decision is the final
level of administrative review. The dispute shall be decided in favor of the applicant if the supervisory officer does
not respond to the written request within 30 days of receipt.

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9. Lack of Administrative Appeal. A decision by an authorized officer to assess a processing fee or to determine
the fee category or estimated costs is not subject to administrative appeal. A decision by an authorized officer’s
immediate supervisor in response to a request for substitution of an alternative fee category or alternative
estimated costs likewise is not subject to administrative appeal.
10. Amendment. Modifications to this agreement shall be made in writing and shall be signed and dated by both
parties.
11. Expiration and Termination. This agreement expires on [date]. Either party, in writing, may terminate this
agreement in whole or in part at any time before it expires. The applicant is responsible for all Forest Service
costs covered by this agreement that are incurred up to the date of expiration or termination.
12.
Principal Point of Contact. The Forest Service and the applicant shall each establish a principal point of
contact for purposes of this agreement.
The Forest Service’s contact is [name, title and telephone number].
The applicant’s contact is [name, title and telephone number].

This agreement is accepted subject to all its terms and conditions.

___________________________________
[Name of applicant]
[Title of applicant]

_____________________________
Date

____________________________________
[Name of authorized officer]
[Title of authorized officer]
USDA, Forest Service

_____________________________
Date

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to
a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is 0596-0082. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 8 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 975-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) govern the confidentiality to be provided for
information received by the Forest Service.

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PART II – MONITORING FEES
B.

BASIS FOR MONITORING FEES

1. Minor Category Authorizations. For minor category authorizations, the Forest Service shall assess the
applicant a monitoring fee based upon the estimated time needed for Forest Service monitoring to ensure
compliance with the authorization during construction or reconstruction of temporary or permanent facilities and
rehabilitation of the construction or reconstruction site. The assessed monitoring fee for minor categories will be
taken from the applicable fee schedule.
2. Major Category Authorizations. For major category authorizations, the Forest Service shall assess the
applicant a monitoring fee based upon the agency’s estimated full actual costs to ensure compliance with the
terms and conditions of the authorization during all phases of its term, including but not limited to monitoring to
ensure compliance with the authorization during the construction or reconstruction of temporary or permanent
facilities and rehabilitation of the construction or reconstruction site.
C. AGREEMENT
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties agree as follows:
1. Scope of Work. The Forest Service shall develop a scope of work for monitoring the authorizations and an
estimate of the agency’s costs to monitor the authorizations, which will be incorporated into this agreement as
Appendix D. This scope of work shall report direct costs in categories that correspond to those in the agency’s
accounting system, e.g., job code, personnel compensation based upon the cost to the government (salary and
benefits), travel, and other direct services, materials, and supplies. In addition, the scope of work shall include the
agency’s indirect costs based upon the approved annual indirect cost rate. Classification of costs as direct or
indirect shall be in accordance with the published Forest Service budget for the applicable fiscal year.

2. Billing. The Forest Service shall bill the applicant prior to commencement of construction, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, or any other activity subject to a monitoring fee. The applicant shall pay the estimated monitoring
fee of $_____ before or at the same time the authorization is issued. $_____. The bill for the estimated
monitoring fee is attached.
3. Payment. The applicant shall pay the estimated monitoring fee within 30 days of the date the bill for the fee
was issued. The Forest Service shall not initiate monitoring the authorization until the estimated monitoring fee is
paid. If the applicant fails to pay the estimated monitoring fee or the fee is late, the Forest Service shall not issue
the authorization or shall suspend or revoke the authorization in whole or in part.

2. Billing. The Forest Service shall bill the applicant prior to commencement of construction, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, or any other activity subject to a monitoring fee. The applicant shall pay the initial estimated
monitoring fee of $_____ before or at the same time the authorization is issued and a subsequent [monthly or
quarterly] estimated monitoring fee of $_____, for a total of $_____. $_____. The bill for initial estimated
monitoring fee is attached.

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3. Payment. The applicant shall pay the initial estimated monitoring fee and any subsequent estimated
monitoring fees within 30 days of the date the bill for the fee was issued. The Forest Service shall not initiate
monitoring the authorization until the estimated monitoring fee is paid. If the applicant fails to pay the initial or any
subsequent estimated monitoring fee or the fee is late or fees due become delinquent, the Forest Service shall
not issue the authorization or shall suspend or revoke the authorization in whole or in part.

4. Statement of Costs. The Forest Service shall [annually or upon completion of the project] report costs
incurred for monitoring the authorizations by providing a financial statement from the agency’s accounting system
to the applicant.

5.
Underpayment. When the estimated monitoring costs are lower than the final monitoring costs for the
authorizations, the applicant shall pay the difference between the estimated and final monitoring costs within 30
days of billing.
6.
Overpayment. If payment of the monitoring fee exceeds the Forest Service’s final monitoring costs for the
authorizations, the Forest Service shall either (a) adjust the next periodic payment to reflect the overpayment or
(b) refund the excess payment to the applicant.
7.

Disputes

a. If the applicant disagrees with the monitoring fee category assigned for a minor category or, in the case of a
major monitoring category, with the estimated dollar amount of the monitoring costs, the applicant may submit a
written request before the disputed fee is due for substitution of an alternative fee category or alternative
estimated costs to the immediate supervisor of the authorized officer who determined the fee category or
estimated costs. The written request must include supporting documentation.
b. If the applicant pays the full disputed monitoring fee, the Forest Service shall issue the authorizations and/or
allow the use and occupancy to continue during the supervisory officer’s review of the disputed fee, unless the
applicant elects not to exercise the authorized use and occupancy of National Forest System lands during the
review period.
c. If the applicant fails to pay the full disputed monitoring fee, the Forest Service shall not issue the applicant an
authorization for any new uses or shall suspend or revoke the applicant’s existing authorization in whole or part
pending the supervisory officer’s determination of an appropriate monitoring fee and the applicant’s payment of
that fee.
d. The authorized officer’s immediate supervisor shall render a decision on a disputed monitoring fee within 30
calendar days of receipt of the written request from the applicant. The supervisory officer’s decision is the final
level of administrative review. The dispute shall be decided in favor of the applicant if the supervisory officer does
not respond to the written request within 30 days of receipt.
8. Lack of Administrative Appeal. A decision by an authorized officer to assess a monitoring fee or to determine
the fee category or estimated costs is not subject to administrative appeal. A decision by an authorized officer’s
immediate supervisor in response to a request for substitution of an alternative fee category or alternative
estimated costs likewise is not subject to administrative appeal.
9. Amendment. Modifications to this agreement shall be made in writing and shall be signed and dated by both
parties.
10. Expiration and Termination. This agreement expires on [date]. Either party, in writing, may terminate this
agreement in whole or in part at any time before it expires. The applicant is responsible for all Forest Service
costs covered by this agreement that are incurred up to the date of expiration or termination.

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11.
Principal Point of Contact. The Forest Service and the applicant shall each establish a principal point of
contact for purposes of this agreement.
The Forest Service’s contact is [name, title and telephone number].
The applicant’s contact is [name, title and telephone number].

This agreement is accepted subject to all its terms and conditions.

___________________________________
[Name of applicant]
[Title of applicant]

_____________________________
Date

____________________________________
[Name of authorized officer]
[Title of authorized officer]
USDA, Forest Service

_____________________________
Date

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to
a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is 0596-0082. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 8 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 975-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) govern the confidentiality to be provided for
information received by the Forest Service.

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APPENDIX A
Applications and Authorizations Subject to this Agreement
Applications

Authorizations

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APPENDIX B
Description and Map of the Geographic Area

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APPENDIX C
Scope of Work

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APPENDIX D
Environmental Analysis
< Delete example prior to printing.>
Example – Single Applicant With Multiple Applications
Application 1: XYZ Resort is building a shelter over an archaeological site.
Environmental analysis required: Environmental Assessment
Application 2: XYZ Resort is replacing a septic tank behind cottage #1 located in a riparian zone known to be the
habitat for the six-toed red frog, which is an endangered species.
Environmental analysis required: Environmental Impact Statement

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