S. 1470 — Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act

This section defines key terms used in the Act, including “Secretary” as the Secretary of Agriculture, “Trail” as the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and “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, subject to the availability of appropriations, to seek to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail—a congressionally designated National Scenic Trail spanning approximately 3,100 miles along the Rocky Mountains' Continental Divide through five states—as a continuous route not later than 10 years after enactment.

This section directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to establish, not later than one year after enactment, a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Trail Completion Team to work 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 for the Trail under section 5. The team shall consult, as appropriate, 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 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 for 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) authorizes acquisition of land or interests in land for the Trail beyond existing authorities under the National Trails System Act—including eminent domain—or (2) prioritizes such acquisitions over other land acquisition authorizations.