Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025
The Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025 would require the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the U.S. Forest Service, to issue a 10-year special use permit to place and maintain a flagpole bearing the United States flag at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point in the Uinta National Forest (near Utah Valley). The initial recipient would be Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah; if he declines, the permit would go to a “qualified person” in Utah County with experience caring for a flagpole (and other relevant qualifications as determined by the Secretary). The bill creates a structured process for selecting a permit holder, sets terms and conditions, requires notice to the public, and prohibits land-use fees for the permit. It also exempts the issuance and administration of this permit from NEPA review and outlines renewal procedures and grounds for early termination. In short, the bill would formally authorize a private or nonprofit group (or an individual meeting the criteria) to install and maintain a U.S. flagpole at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point on federal land, with a tightly defined selection process, public notice, and no associated land-use fees or NEPA requirements for this particular permit.
Key Points
- 1Special Use Permit for Kyhv Peak: Directs the Forest Service to issue a 10-year permit for placing and maintaining a covered flagpole bearing the U.S. flag at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point within the Uinta National Forest.
- 2Initial recipient and fallback: The permit would go first to Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah; if he declines, it would go to a qualified person from Utah County meeting defined criteria.
- 3Qualifications and selection: A “qualified person” must have experience placing or maintaining a flagpole and any other relevant qualifications the Secretary deems appropriate; applicants must follow the Secretary’s application process; priority is given to (1) the prior permit holder, (2) someone named by the prior permit holder, and (3) other qualified applicants.
- 4Terms, conditions, and public notice: The Secretary may impose necessary terms to ensure proper care and maintenance; there is no land-use fee for the permit; notices of permit availability must be published on the Forest Service website and in a local Utah County newspaper.
- 5NEPA exemption: The National Environmental Policy Act does not apply to the issuance, renewal, or administration of the permit, or to activities associated with the flagpole (placing, maintenance, or removal).
- 6Renewal and termination: A new or renewed 10-year permit must be issued within 180 days after the earliest of: 10 years after the previous permit, the prior holder’s termination request, or early termination due to noncompliance. The Secretary can terminate if the holder is not in compliance with the permit’s terms.
- 7Restrictions on exchanges: Permit holders may not accept anything of value in exchange for naming a person under the selection process.
- 8Access: The Secretary may grant reasonable access to Kyhv Peak Lookout Point to exercise rights under the permit, with safety and resource protection conditions.