2709.11, 10
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FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
EASTERN REGION (REGION 9)
MILWAUKEE, WI
FSH 2709.11 – SPECIAL USES HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 10 – APPLICATION AND AUTHORIZATION PROCESSING
Supplement No.: R9 RO 2709.11-2005-2
Effective Date: August 22, 2005
Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: FORREST L. STARKEY
Deputy Regional Forester
Date Approved: 8/1/2005
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and
calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this
supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement to
this Handbook was 2709.11-2005-1 to Chapter 30.
New Document
R9 RO 2709.11-2005-2
4 Pages
Superseded Document(s)
None
0 Pages
Digest: In order by code, summarize the main additions, revisions, or removal of direction
incorporated in this supplement.
14.3 – Provides the Regional minimum property damage and liability insurance coverage
requirements.
R9 RO SUPPLEMENT 2709.11-2005-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 8/22/2005
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
2709.11, 10
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FSH 2709.11 – SPECIAL USES HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 10 – APPLICATION AND AUTHORIZATION PROCESSING
14 – PREPARING AND ISSUING AUTHORIZATIONS
Do not enter into interagency or other authorized agreements (FSM 1580) in lieu of a special use
authorization, unless there is mutual benefit to be derived by both parties and the use is otherwise
in conformance with applicable laws, regulations, policy, and management direction. This
includes uses such as training maneuvers by the military or uses which benefit state or local
governments.
14.3 – Liability and Insurance Coverage
All special use authorizations will require the minimum amounts of property damage and
liability insurance as shown in Exhibit 01, unless waived by the Forest Supervisor (FSM
2713.11).
The Forest Supervisor may require greater property damage coverage where potential for higher
damage claims exists. For example, the average top value boat using a marina should be used to
establish the level of coverage. The amount of liability insurance above the minimum is
determined by evaluating the level of risk, anticipated amount of use, degree of protection
provided, probability of liability, etc.
The Forest Supervisor shall require higher coverage under “umbrella” type liability policies in
the amount of $1,000,000 for permits for winter sports sites with aerial lifts and other uses with
potential for catastrophic accidents.
For recreation event authorizations, public liability insurance coverage may be required to cover
the spectators, but does not cover the participants in the event.
During a review of the holder’s insurance policy, the Forest Supervisor must ensure that the
Forest Service receives notification by the company 30 days prior to terminating the policy.
Policies naming the United States as additional or co-insured “solely as respects to liability
arising from acts or omissions of the named insured” are unacceptable. Acceptable language
should be equivalent to, “Solely as respects liability arising from operations of the named
insured.”
R9 RO SUPPLEMENT 2709.11-2005-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 8/22/2005
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
2709.11, 10
Page 3 of 5
FSH 2709.11 – SPECIAL USES HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 10 – APPLICATION AND AUTHORIZATION PROCESSING
Exhibit 01 - Minimum Insurance Coverage For Special Uses
All figures are in thousand dollars. Required Minimum Coverage column contains Property
Damage/Death or Injury - One Person/Death or Injury - More Than One Person. For example,
25/300/500 indicates $25,000 property damage, $300,000 death or injury - one person, and
$500,000 death or injury - more than one person. Where insurance is required the amounts shall
not be less than 10/100/200. Most policies are written with a “Combined Single Limits” (CSL).
In the CSL kind of coverage, the maximum an insurance company will pay for both property and
death/injury is shown as a single total. To reflect this industry change, Region 9 has established
CSL minimums.
FSM
TYPE OF SPECIAL USE
REQUIRED MINIMUM
COVERAGE
2721.11
2721.12
2721.13
2721.14
2721.15
2721.22
2721.3
2721.32
2721.33
2721.41
2721.42
2721.43
2721.44
2721.46
2721.47
2721.48
2721.52
2721.53
Boat Dock and Wharf
Clubs
Organization Camps
Trails Shelters
Private Camps
Houseboats
Lodging
Hote-Motel
Resorts
Camp and Picnic
Caves and Caverns
Golf Course
Park and Playground
Rifle and Target Ranges
Trailer Courts or Camps
Tramway
Marina
Outfitting and Guiding
Saddle and Pack Stock
Nordic Skiing
Non-Avalanche Areas
Areas w/Avalanche
Potential
Back Packing
Rock Climbing
Bicycling
Nature Hikes
Running Clinics
25/100/300
25/300/500
25/300/500
10/100/200
25/300/500
25/300/300
25/300/500
25/300/500
25/300/500
25/100/300
25/100/300
25/100/200
25/100/300
25/100/300
25/300/300
50/500/2000
50/500/500
COMBINED
SINGLE
LIMITS
$ 300,000
$ 500,000
$ 500,000
$ 200,000
$ 500,000
$ 300,000
$ 500,000
$ 500,000
$ 500,000
$ 300,000
$ 300,000
$ 200,000
$ 300,000
$ 300,000
$ 300,000
$2,000,000
$ 500,000
25/500/500
$ 500,000
25/300/300
25/500/500
$ 300,000
$ 500,000
25/300/300
25/500/500
25/500/500
25/300/300
25/300/300
$
$
$
$
$
300,000
500,000
500,000
300,000
300,000
R9 RO SUPPLEMENT 2709.11-2005-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 8/22/2005
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
2709.11, 10
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FSH 2709.11 – SPECIAL USES HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 10 – APPLICATION AND AUTHORIZATION PROCESSING
Exhibit 01 Cont.
FSM
2721.54
2721.55
2721.56
2721.57
2721.58
2721.58
2721.62
2721.63
2721.64
2721.65
2725.51
2725.52
TYPE OF SPECIAL USE
REQUIRED MINIMUM
COVERAGE
Snowmobiling
Rafting and Boating
Class IV-V
Class I-III
Rental Services
Restaurant
Service Station
Store, Shop, Offices
Vendor and Peddler
Winter Sports Resorts
Nordic Skiing
Non-Avalanche
Areas
Areas w/
Avalanche
Potential
Alpine Skiing
Avalanche Training
Lifts
Ski Slopes
Ski Activities
Snow Play
Still Photography
Commercial Filming
25/500/500
COMBINED
SINGLE
LIMITS
$ 500,000
25/500/1000
25/500/500
25/100/200
25/100/200
25/100/300
25/100/200
25/100/200
$1,000,000
$ 500,000
$ 200,000
$ 200,000
$ 300,000
$ 200,000
$ 200,000
25/300/500
$ 500,000
25/500/500
$ 500,000
25/500/1000
25/500/1000
50/500/2000
50/500/2000
25/100/200
25/500/1000
10/100/300
10/100/300
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
$ 200,000
$1,000,000
$ 300,000
$ 300,000
Forest Supervisors should review each authorization issued for the degree of risk involved. For
example, some categories of Outfitter/Guide uses are of lower risks than others. For activities
that create a higher risk of injury or damage, 25/50/1000 might be appropriate. Document the
rationale for higher insurance requirements, and outline the risks involved. Requests for lower
insurance minimums will be reviewed on a case basis considering the relevant risks.
If contemplating reduction of minimum insurance levels, the holder must outline what
operational changes would be made that would reduce the degree of risk involved commensurate
with the reduction in insurance coverage. Document these changes in the holder's annual
operation plan.
R9 RO SUPPLEMENT 2709.11-2005-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 8/22/2005
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
2709.11, 10
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FSH 2709.11 – SPECIAL USES HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 10 – APPLICATION AND AUTHORIZATION PROCESSING
If there are questions regarding additional coverage stipulations, submit the additional insurance
rider to the Regional Office staff group concerned with special uses for review.