Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025
Introduced July 23, 2025 · Last action February 12, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to issue a 10-year special use permit allowing the placement and maintenance of a U.S. flagpole at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point in Utah's Uinta National Forest. The permit is first offered to Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah, or to a qualified Utah County resident or nonprofit organization if he declines. The bill exempts this permit from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and from standard Forest Service land use fees.
Who benefits
Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah (primary beneficiary of first right to the permit); Utah County residents, nonprofits, and volunteer organizations meeting 'qualified person' criteria (secondary beneficiaries eligible for future permits); the permit holder benefits from cost-free use of federal land (no land use fees) and exemption from NEPA environmental review requirements.
Who pays / loses
U.S. Forest Service bears administrative costs of issuing, monitoring, and renewing the permit without compensatory land use fees; the broader public loses the opportunity for NEPA review, which would typically allow public comment on federal land use activities; any Utah County residents or organizations not selected for the permit lose the opportunity to maintain the flagpole.
Funding & Lobbying Interests
No financial interests or lobbying background is evident from the bill text itself. However, the bill benefits individuals and organizations with flagpole maintenance capacity in Utah County and exempts the permit from standard Forest Service cost-recovery mechanisms. The sponsorship by Utah Senators John Curtis and Mike Lee suggests local political support; Curtis and Lee have historically received campaign contributions from outdoor recreation, tourism, and conservative advocacy groups, though the bill text does not identify any industry or corporate financial interest driving this legislation.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah (named individual beneficiary); Utah County, Utah residents and nonprofits meeting 'qualified person' criteria; Uinta National Forest visitors and the general public (who lose NEPA public comment rights on this federal land use); U.S. Forest Service (bears administrative burden without fee recovery).
Political Subtext
Proponents frame this as a patriotic measure to honor the United States flag at a scenic mountain location and empower local Utah volunteers and communities to maintain it without federal red tape. The NEPA exemption and fee waiver are presented as removing unnecessary bureaucratic barriers to a patriotic activity. Critics would argue the bill grants a 10-year monopoly on federal land use to a named individual (or his designee) without competitive bidding, public comment, or environmental review; exempting NEPA review bypasses the 1969 statute's core purpose of ensuring federal agencies publicly evaluate environmental impacts before authorizing land-use activities. The non-partisan record contains no evidence that NEPA review of flagpole maintenance at this location has been burdensome or controversial.
Real-World Stakes
If enacted, Robert S. Collins gains a cost-free, 10-year right to maintain a flagpole on federal land. If he declines, Utah County residents or nonprofits may compete for the permit, with succession priority going to previously selected permit holders. The exemption from NEPA means no federal environmental assessment, no public notice period (beyond a local newspaper announcement), and no requirement to consider alternatives or cumulative impacts—streamlining the process but eliminating public oversight typical for federal land authorizations. The fee waiver costs the Forest Service revenue that would normally offset the administrative burden of permit management. Analogous NEPA exemptions have been upheld as constitutional but are controversial; in recent years, exempting high-profile land uses from NEPA (e.g., Section 102(2)(C) exemptions in energy legislation) has generated legal challenges on environmental grounds, though specific precedent for flagpole maintenance is absent.
What's Inside This Bill
Non-obvious provisions not apparent from the headline summary.
NEPA Exemption Creates Precedent for Future Permits
By exempting this specific permit from National Environmental Policy Act review requirements, the bill bypasses environmental assessment and public comment procedures that normally apply to Forest Service permits, even for what appears to be a minimal-impact flagpole installation.
AffectsEnvironmental groups and the general public lose opportunity for environmental review and input on this and potentially similar future permits; sets precedent that other similar permits might claim exemption from NEPA.
Fee Waiver Creates Unfunded Obligation
The exemption from standard Forest Service land use fees means the government forgoes revenue that would normally be collected for the 10-year permit period, with no identified replacement funding source for permit administration or site maintenance.
AffectsU.S. Forest Service budget and maintenance programs lose anticipated revenue; taxpayers indirectly subsidize this specific permit holder's use of public land.
First-Right-to-Refuse Grants Preferential Treatment to Named Individual
Robert S. Collins is offered first right to obtain the permit before it can be offered to other Utah County residents or nonprofits, creating a personal carve-out that prioritizes one named individual over competitive bidding or transparent selection processes.
AffectsRobert S. Collins receives a personalized entitlement not available through normal Forest Service permit procedures; other potential applicants are excluded from equal consideration.
10-Year Duration Without Renewal Review Process
The permit runs for a full 10-year period without specification of renewal conditions, modifications, or whether the Secretary must conduct review before renewal, potentially locking in terms that cannot be adjusted based on changed circumstances.
AffectsThe Forest Service loses administrative flexibility to modify or revoke the permit based on changed conditions; future Secretaries may be bound by terms set in current legislation rather than current agency decision-making.
Sponsor
Co-sponsors (1)
RSen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
Top contributing industries
Other$169,777.99
Finance$51,959.15
Energy$33,161.04
Healthcare$11,750
Transportation$10,947.37
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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