Commercial Use Authorizations

Pipe Spring National Monument is a 40 acre monument with a rich historical setting in the heart of the Arizona Strip. Due to it's limited size and protection needs of resources on the monument, the only commecial use authorization for Pipe Spring is for Road Based Tours. If you are receiving monetary gain by providing these services, you MUST have a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA).

Commercial Use Authorizations for Road Based Tours

Any commercial activity, other than commercial filming and/or photography, requires a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA).

The Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program authorizes the provision of suitable commercial services to park area visitors, as long as three conditions are met: the services (a) will have minimal impact on the park area’s resources and values; (b) are consistent with the purposes for which the park area was established; and (c) are consistent with all applicable park area management plans, policies and regulations.

Under current authority, the NPS has no basis to exempt road-based commercial tour operators from the requirement to obtain a CUA to conduct business in parks. Beginning April 1, 2020, and thereafter, parks must issue and charge a fee for road-based commercial tour CUAs. The fee is comprised of an application fee and a management fee.

Road-based commercial tours are defined as one or more persons traveling by vehicle on an improved roadway on an itinerary that someone has packaged and sold for leisure/recreational purposes, and; Provides no other services except those incidental to road-based travel in an area unit of the National Park System (on-board interpretation and incidental stops at visitor centers, restaurants, wayside exhibits, etc.).

Starting April 1, 2020 a commercial tour business visiting Pipe Spring NM must procure a CUA in advance and follow the terms and conditions of the authorization. A Pipe Spring CUA is valid for one calendar year. Various liability insurance and first aid requirements may need to be met in order to receive a permit.

CAU Application Fee

Road-based commercial tour operators will pay an annual $300 non-refundable CUA application fee for each submitted CUA application. All Commercial Uses of the park require the submission of an application and fee at least three weeks in advance. The responsibility for obtaining a road-based commercial tour CUA will fall on the company that packaged, priced, and sold the tour. 100% of collected CUA application fees stay within the collecting park.

Commercial Tour Entrance Fees

In addition to the CUA application fee, tour operators must pay $10.00 per passenger (not including guides and driver) upon each visit to Pipe Spring. (Valid for seven days.)

Pipe Spring CUA for Road Based Tours form and payment process will be posted soon!

UPDATE

The implementation of the standardized Road-based Commercial Tour (RBCT) Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program and changes to commercial tour entrance fees are being delayed six months from the original October 1, 2019 date. Based on the six month delay and except as provided below, NPS will not accept RBCT CUA applications until January 1, 2020 and not require CUAs for entry until April 1, 2020. A change in commercial tour entrance fees will not occur until the standardized RBCT CUA Program is implemented. Official notice of this change and any additional changes will be made by NPS or Department of the Interior Leadership.

For more information about these changes, please visit the NPS web-page featuring Commercial Use Authorizations.