“A bill to enhance the preservation, maintenance, and management of national historic trails and national scenic trails, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section declares Congress's policy that national historic trails and national scenic trails are landscape conservation tools, including non-federal lands, to be developed, managed, and operated cooperatively with volunteers, governmental, and nongovernmental partners—with the federal government responsible for administration (and management where the landowner)—distinct from delegable, non-inherently governmental functions; it highlights the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as a model of public-private partnership, the contributions of Appalachian Trail Maintaining Clubs, and the 2025 centennial of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as an opportunity to replicate that model systemwide.
This section defines 14 terms used in the Act, including (1) "covered trail" as a national historic trail or national scenic trail designated under section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(a)); (2) "cooperative management" as the negotiated division of permissible roles and responsibilities relating to stewardship and development of a covered trail (i.e., administration, management, or operation); (3) "Secretary concerned" as the Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Agriculture, depending on which administers the covered trail; and (4) "visitor capacity" as the maximum number and types of visitor use a covered trail can accommodate while maintaining its established purposes and conditions.
This section declares each covered trail (i.e., national historic trail or national scenic trail) to be (1) a unit of the National Trails System and (2) a unit of the federally administered area to which the Secretary concerned (i.e., Secretary of the Interior or Agriculture) assigns the trail. This section directs the Secretary concerned to designate, not later than one year after enactment, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as the Designated Operational Partner (DOP) for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail; authorizes designation of additional DOPs for other covered trails from eligible nonprofit entities (i.e., 501(c)(3) organizations) meeting specified criteria, including trail management experience, volunteer coordination plans, and financial practices; specifies that DOPs possess unique qualifications, may receive appropriated funds without competition, and continue present-funded activities; and allows rescission of DOP status if criteria cease to be met. This section authorizes a DOP to submit a written request—labeled as a “Designated Operational Partner Request for Redress”—to the Secretary concerned and relevant U.S. Attorney for investigation and enforcement of alleged trespasses or property rights violations adversely affecting covered trail resources, requiring detailed information on the violation and remedies; and establishes timelines of 60 days for the Secretary's assessment and 30 days for any DOP response with additional information.
This section directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture (Secretaries), with respect to covered trails (i.e., national scenic and historic trails designated under 16 U.S.C. 1244, such as the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail), to (1) determine visitor capacity on a segment-specific basis in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and comprehensive plans; (2) identify, not later than 3 years after enactment and every 5 years thereafter, methods to assess economic impacts on gateway communities using aggregated data, state and local partnerships, and cooperative management systems; and (3) submit joint reports to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and House Committee on Natural Resources, including one due 3 years after enactment on successes and challenges in trail development and planning and one due 5 years after enactment assessing desired conditions, visitor usage (including group sizes of 10 or more), priority segments for facilities or protection, and necessary activities, with consultations required among nearby communities, federally recognized Indian Tribes, land-managing agencies, and trail partners. This section also authorizes appropriations of such sums as necessary for FY2026 through 2031 to carry out these provisions and, through appropriate programs, for acquisition, construction, and development of trail facilities (including land or interests in land).