H.R. 2877 — Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act: (1) Secretary, as the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) Trail, as the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail; and (3) Trail Completion Team, as the joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management trail completion team established under section 4(a).

This section directs the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail—a congressionally designated long-distance hiking trail along the Rocky Mountains' Continental Divide spanning approximately 3,100 miles across five states—as a continuous route not later than 10 years after enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations.

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to establish, not later than one year after enactment, a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management trail completion team to coordinate with the Trail administrator (1) to facilitate completion and optimization of the Trail consistent with its purposes and (2) to assist in developing the comprehensive development plan under section 5. As appropriate, the team must consult with other federal agencies, affected state, tribal, and local governments, landowners, affected land-grant mercedes owners and users, acequias, and other interested parties on those matters.

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to complete a comprehensive development plan for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail not later than three years after the establishment of the Trail Completion Team under section 4(a). The plan must (1) identify gaps in the trail for which the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior have not acquired land, (2) identify opportunities to use easements from willing sellers to complete the trail, and (3) include general and site-specific trail development plans with anticipated costs.

This section directs the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior to seek agreements with volunteer and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate, to facilitate the completion and administration of the Trail.

This section clarifies that nothing in the Act (1) provides authority to acquire land or interests in land for inclusion in the Trail beyond existing authorities under the National Trails System Act—including by eminent domain—or (2) prioritizes such acquisitions over other land acquisition authorizations.