[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5134 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5134
To enhance the preservation, maintenance, and management of national
historic trails and national scenic trails, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 4, 2025
Mr. Beyer (for himself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance the preservation, maintenance, and management of national
historic trails and national scenic trails, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Appalachian Trail Centennial Act''.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF POLICY.
Congress declares that--
(1) the large landscape conservation work relating to
national historic trails and national scenic trails is built on
partnership, collaboration, and community engagement;
(2) national historic trails and national scenic trails--
(A) are landscape conservation tools; and
(B) are federally designated areas, but may include
portions of non-Federal land under the National Trails
System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.);
(3) national historic trails and national scenic trails are
intended to be developed and preserved over time,
collaboratively and cooperatively, to further the purposes of
the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.);
(4) the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 1 of the first 2
components of the National Trails System--
(A) is a realm of natural, scenic, historical, and
cultural wonder available to all; and
(B) is a model for cooperative management and
public-private partnership;
(5) the centennial of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in
2025 is an opportunity to strengthen the precepts of the
cooperative management model--
(A) pioneered on the Appalachian National Scenic
Trail; and
(B) to be replicated as appropriate throughout the
National Trails System;
(6) the development of the Appalachian National Scenic
Trail is in large part due to the efforts of volunteer
organizations (commonly referred to as ``Appalachian Trail
Maintaining Clubs'') that--
(A) directly or through subdivisions or subsidiary
organizations, have coordinated the participation of
tens of thousands of volunteers for the planning,
construction, development, maintenance, operation, and
stewardship of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail,
which inspired the establishment of the National Trails
System; and
(B) are the expert, dispersed corps of volunteers
who provide much of the day-to-day cooperative
operation of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail;
(7) there are inherently governmental functions referred to
in the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.)
relating to the administration of national historic trails and
national scenic trails, which is distinct from the management
and operation of those trails;
(8) the Federal Government is responsible for--
(A) the administration of national historic trails
and national scenic trails; and
(B) in cases in which the United States is the
landowner, the management of national historic trails
and national scenic trails;
(9) volunteers, volunteer organizations, and other
cooperating individuals or entities are empowered to undertake
non-inherently governmental and delegable roles in the
management and operation of national historic trails and
national scenic trails;
(10) the operation of a national historic trail or national
scenic trail does not require land management authority over
the land on which the national historic trail or national
scenic trail is located; and
(11) it is the policy of the Federal Government that
national historic trails and national scenic trails--
(A) are conservation units managed and operated in
partnership with governmental and nongovernmental
entities; and
(B) while administered by Federal agencies, are
intended to be cooperatively developed with appropriate
non-Federal Governmental and nongovernmental partners.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administration.--The term ``administration'', with
respect to a covered trail, means the roles and
responsibilities of the Secretary concerned with respect to the
covered trail that may not be shared with any other individual
or entity.
(2) Comprehensive plan.--The term ``comprehensive plan''
means a comprehensive plan for a covered trail submitted under
subsection (e) or (f) of section 5 of the National Trails
System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244).
(3) Cooperative management.--The term ``cooperative
management'', with respect to a covered trail, means the
negotiated division of roles and responsibilities relating to
the stewardship and development of the covered trail that are--
(A) permissible under law; and
(B) within the categories of--
(i) administration;
(ii) management; and
(iii) operation.
(4) Cooperative management system.--The term ``cooperative
management system'', with respect to a covered trail, means the
negotiated management structure for cooperative management of
the covered trail, including--
(A) Federal and State trust resource managers;
(B) Tribal governments;
(C) nongovernmental organizations; and
(D) volunteers organized by entities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (C).
(5) Covered trail.--The term ``covered trail'' means a
national historic trail or national scenic trail designated by
section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C.
1244(a)).
(6) Designated operational partner.--The term ``Designated
Operational Partner'', with respect to a covered trail, means
the 1 or more entities designated for the covered trail under
subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 4(b)(1).
(7) Gateway community.--The term ``gateway community''
means a municipality or unincorporated settlement in the
vicinity of a covered trail.
(8) Management.--The term ``management'', with respect to a
covered trail, means the roles and responsibilities under
applicable law of the owner of the land, or any interest in
land, on which the covered trail is located with respect to the
covered trail.
(9) Operation.--
(A) In general.--The term ``operation'', with
respect to a covered trail, means any activity
permissible under law that--
(i) is carried out pursuant to a
cooperative agreement on land on which the
covered trail is located;
(ii) is not an activity of administration;
and
(iii) does not infringe on any management
or ownership authority of the applicable land
manager, if the land manager is not the
individual or entity carrying out the activity.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``operation'' includes--
(i) the identification and acquisition of
land for a covered trail;
(ii) the planning, construction, and
maintenance of a facility or other improvement
on, across, or along a covered trail;
(iii) the provision of services for a
covered trail;
(iv) the conceptual development of a
covered trail;
(v) the maintenance of the treadway of a
covered trail;
(vi) conducting a research project relating
to a covered trail;
(vii) the provision to volunteers of
education and training relating to methods of
planning for, construction of, and maintenance
of a covered trail; and
(viii) the conservation of natural,
cultural, or other resources associated with a
covered trail.
(10) Proposed priority list.--The term ``proposed priority
list'' means a proposed priority list for a covered trail
developed under section 4(b)(3).
(11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(12) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means--
(A) the Secretary, with respect to a covered trail
administered by the Secretary; and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to a
covered trail administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture.
(13) Visitor capacity.--The term ``visitor capacity''
means, with respect to a covered trail, the maximum number and
types of visitor use that the covered trail can accommodate
while achieving and maintaining the desired resource conditions
and visitor experiences that are consistent with the purposes
for which the covered trail was established, which may vary for
different segments of a covered trail.
(14) Volunteer organization.--The term ``volunteer
organization'' means any organization providing operation or
management support to a covered trail administrator or land
manager, including by organizing volunteers.
SEC. 4. STRENGTHENING ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT, AND OPERATION FOR
NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS AND NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS.
(a) Status.--Each covered trail shall be--
(1) a unit of the National Trails System; and
(2) a unit of the federally administered area to which the
Secretary concerned assigns the covered trail.
(b) Operation.--
(1) Designated operational partners.--
(A) Appalachian trail conservancy.--Not later than
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary concerned shall designate the Appalachian
Trail Conservancy as the Designated Operational Partner
for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
(B) Additional designations.--
(i) In general.--In addition to the
designation under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary concerned may designate to serve as
the Designated Operational Partner for any
other covered trail 1 or more eligible entities
described in clause (ii) that the Secretary
concerned determines--
(I) are capable of supporting the
partnership nature of the covered trail
as a mechanism for conservation,
volunteer mobilization, and land and
facility management; and
(II) would be successful partners
for the applicable covered trail.
(ii) Description of eligible entities.--An
eligible entity referred to in clause (i) is an
organization, institution, corporation, or
other entity that, as determined by the
Secretary concerned--
(I) is described in section 501(c)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
and exempt from tax under section
501(a) of that Code;
(II) has demonstrated experience in
the operation, maintenance, and
preservation of the resources of the
covered trail, regardless of whether
the experience was before or after the
designation of the covered trail under
the National Trails System Act (16
U.S.C. 1241 et seq.);
(III) has a plan for providing,
facilitating, and coordinating the
services of volunteers to contribute to
the stewardship of the covered trail;
(IV) has a record, including
through a predecessor organization, of
engagement with the establishment,
management, maintenance, or operation
of the covered trail;
(V) adheres to reasonable
financial, accounting, and risk
management practices;
(VI) adheres to applicable
requirements of Federal agreements,
grants, and contracts; and
(VII) would not supplant an
organization already serving a
substantial operational role trail-wide
for the covered trail or across a
significant portion of the covered
trail, unless the Secretary concerned
has determined that the organization
being supplanted has failed to perform
the responsibilities of the
organization under a management
agreement with respect to the covered
trail.
(iii) Qualifications.--
(I) In general.--An eligible entity
designated as a Designated Operational
Partner under clause (i) shall be
considered to possesses unique
expertise, location capacity, cost-
sharing ability, or other unique
qualities relevant to the designation
as a Designated Operational Partner for
the covered trail.
(II) No competitive process.--An
eligible entity designated as a
Designated Operational Partner under
clause (i) may be a direct beneficiary
or recipient of appropriated funds
without competition.
(III) Present-funded activity.--
Designation of a Designated Operational
Partner for a covered trail shall be
considered to be a continuation or
completion of a present-funded
activity.
(C) Rescission.--The Secretary concerned may
rescind the designation of an eligible entity as a
Designated Operational Partner under subparagraph (B)
if the Secretary concerned determines that the eligible
entity has ceased to meet 1 or more of the criteria
described in clause (ii) of that subparagraph.
(2) Protection of property rights.--
(A) In general.--If the Designated Operational
Partner for a covered trail becomes aware of an
allegation of trespass or other infringement or
violation of a property right held by the Federal
Government that adversely affects the identified
cultural, natural, scenic, recreational, or historical
resources of the covered trail, the Designated
Operational Partner may submit to the Secretary
concerned and the United States Attorney for the
Federal district court in which the alleged violation
occurred a written request--
(i) to investigate the allegation; and
(ii) to enforce the rights of the United
States by preventing, reducing, mitigating, or
remediating the adverse effects of the alleged
violation.
(B) Notice.--
(i) In general.--A request under
subparagraph (A) shall include, to the maximum
extent practicable, detailed information
relating to the alleged trespass, infringement,
or violation, including--
(I) the nature, location, duration,
and known identity of any alleged
offender;
(II) any efforts carried out to
address the alleged violation;
(III) any impacts of the alleged
violation on the applicable covered
trail or resources of the covered
trail; and
(IV) any requested remedy.
(ii) Submission requirements.--A request
under subparagraph (A) shall be--
(I) submitted to the Secretary
concerned and appropriate United States
Attorney by--
(aa) electronic means; or
(bb) delivery to the
address on file for official
correspondence; and
(II) clearly identified as a
``Designated Operational Partner
Request for Redress''.
(iii) Signatures.--A request under
subparagraph (A) may be signed by--
(I) the applicable Designated
Operational Partner; and
(II) any other individual or entity
that is a part of the cooperative
management system of the applicable
covered trail.
(C) Response.--
(i) Assessment.--Not later than 60 days
after the date on which a request is submitted
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
submit to the United States Attorney for the
Federal district court in which the applicable
alleged trespass, infringement, or violation
occurred and the Designated Operational Partner
an assessment of the alleged violation.
(ii) Additional information from designated
operational partner.--Not later than 30 days
after the date on which the Designated
Operational Partner receives an assessment
under clause (i), the Designated Operational
Partner may provide to the Secretary concerned
and the relevant United States Attorney
additional information relating to the alleged
violation.
(iii) Response from united states
attorney.--Not later than 150 days after the
date on which a request is submitted to a
United States Attorney under subparagraph (A),
and not later than 60 days after the date on
which a Designated Operational Partner provides
additional information under clause (ii) to the
United States Attorney, if applicable, the
United States Attorney shall submit to the
Secretary concerned and the Designated
Operational Partner information regarding
whether the United States Attorney is pursuing
redress for the alleged violation.
(D) Litigation costs.--In issuing any final order
with respect to a petition brought under this
subsection, the relevant Federal district court may
award to a Designated Operational Partner the costs of
petitioning (including reasonable attorney and expert
witness fees) if the Secretary or United States
Attorney takes action to address the alleged violation
of the rights of the United States.
(E) Effect.--Nothing in this paragraph--
(i) limits any cause of action that the
Federal Government may have under any other
law;
(ii) obligates--
(I) a Designated Operational
Partner to participate, or to present
claims or defenses, in any civil action
relating to the property rights of the
Federal Government; or
(II) the Federal Government to
participate, or to present claims or
defenses, in any civil action relating
to the property rights of the
Designated Operational Partner; or
(iii) makes--
(I) a Designated Operational
Partner a necessary party in any action
relating to the property rights of the
Federal Government; or
(II) the Federal Government a
necessary party in any action relating
to the property rights of the
Designated Operational Partner.
(3) Land and resource protection proposed priority lists.--
(A) In general.--Each Designated Operational
Partner shall periodically develop and submit to the
Secretary concerned and the heads of any other
appropriate Federal land management agencies a proposed
priority list for land and resource protection for the
applicable covered trail.
(B) Applicable law.--
(i) In general.--A proposed priority list
shall be considered to advance the planning and
development of the applicable covered trail in
accordance with section 2(c) of the National
Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241(c)).
(ii) Effect.--Nothing in this Act--
(I) conveys any land protection
authority not included in the National
Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et
seq.); or
(II) prioritizes the use of funds
for land protection projects on covered
trails over funds for other land
protection projects.
(C) Contents.--A Designated Operational Partner
shall include on a proposed priority list--
(i) the location and current ownership of
each parcel of land identified for inclusion in
the applicable covered trail;
(ii) the desired nature of ownership of
each parcel of land identified for inclusion in
the covered trail, including a partial or fee
ownership;
(iii) the name of the owner of each
identified parcel of land;
(iv) a description of the benefit to the
covered trail in the preservation of scenic,
recreational, historical, natural, or cultural
values for which the covered trail was
designated; and
(v) the name of any nongovernmental partner
committed to advancing the protection of
parcels of land identified on the proposed
priority list for inclusion in the covered
trail.
(D) Input; criteria.--In developing a proposed
priority list, a Designated Operational Partner shall--
(i) solicit input from a variety of
governmental, nongovernmental, Federal, and
State partners, the scope of which shall be
limited to a landscape or physiographic region
agreed to by the Designated Operational Partner
and the Secretary concerned; and
(ii) establish criteria to prioritize land
and resource protection recommendations
included on the proposed priority list.
(E) Use of federal funds.--
(i) In general.--In using Federal funds to
protect land for a covered trail--
(I) the Secretary concerned shall
prioritize the use of funds for land
identified for Federal protection in
the applicable proposed priority list,
except to the extent that the Secretary
concerned determines, based on
considerations set forth in the
National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C.
1241 et seq.) and the comprehensive
plan for the covered trail, and subject
to clause (ii), that--
(aa) a parcel of land
included on the proposed
priority list should not be
prioritized; or
(bb) a parcel of land not
included on the proposed
priority list should be
prioritized; and
(II) a State is encouraged to
incorporate land identified for State
protection in the applicable land and
resource conservation plan of the
State, as appropriate, in accordance
with State law.
(ii) Notice.--If the Secretary concerned
determines under clause (i)(I) that a parcel of
land included on the proposed priority list
should not be prioritized or that a parcel of
land not included on the proposed priority list
should be prioritized instead of a parcel of
land included on the proposed priority list,
the Secretary concerned shall submit to the
Designated Operational Partner notice of the
determination, including a detailed explanation
of the reason for the determination.
(F) Reports.--Not less frequently than once every 5
years, the Secretaries concerned shall submit to
Congress a report that describes any progress or lack
of progress of the Secretaries concerned with respect
to advancing land and resource conservation objectives
under proposed priority lists.
(G) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to each of the Secretary
and the Secretary of Agriculture such sums as are
necessary to carry out planning activities relating to
the development, updating, and implementation of
proposed priority lists under this paragraph.
(4) Acceptance or rejection of comprehensive plans.--
(A) In general.--Notwithstanding subsections (e)
and (f) of section 5 of the National Trails System Act
(16 U.S.C. 1244), a Designated Operational Partner may
accept or reject--
(i) a proposed comprehensive plan for the
applicable covered trail; and
(ii) any amendments or revisions to the
comprehensive plan for the applicable covered
trail (other than an addendum to a
comprehensive plan for the applicable covered
trail prepared in accordance with the process
established under subsection (g)(3)).
(B) Report.--If a comprehensive plan or amendment
or revision to a comprehensive plan rejected by a
Designated Operational Partner under subparagraph (A)
is subsequently submitted to Congress, the Secretary
concerned shall submit to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a
report that describes the basis for the submission of
the rejected comprehensive plan or amendment or
revision to the comprehensive plan by the Secretary
concerned.
(5) Surplus personal property.--
(A) In general.--Notwithstanding subchapter III of
chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, a Federal
agency may dispose of surplus personal property by
transferring the property to a Designated Operational
Partner, to be used by the Designated Operational
Partner for purposes of carrying out a cooperative
agreement entered into under section 7(h) of the
National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1246(h)).
(B) Prohibition.--A transfer of surplus personal
property under subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the
condition that the Designated Operational Partner to
whom the property is transferred (including any
subsidiary or subdivision of the Designated Operational
Partner) may not--
(i) use the transferred property for
purposes other than carrying out the duties and
authorities of the Designated Operational
Partner under the cooperative agreement; or
(ii) transfer the transferred property to a
recipient that is not a part of the cooperative
management system of the covered trail.
(c) Management.--Nothing in this Act or the National Trails System
Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.)--
(1) provides any authority to a Designated Operational
Partner, other volunteer organization, volunteer, or other
individual or entity any authority to issue, amend, or revoke
any land use authorization unless provided for explicitly by
statute;
(2) except as specifically provided in this Act or the
National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.), removes or
transfers any authority otherwise provided by law; or
(3) except as authorized by the processes established under
this Act or the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et
seq.), provides any Designated Operational Partner, other
volunteer organization, volunteer, or any other individual or
entity authority over the property, holdings, or possessory or
other interest of any other partner to a covered trail.
(d) Administration.--
(1) In general.--In making administration, management, or
operational decisions that would impact the ability of
volunteers or a volunteer organization to serve a substantial
role on covered trails, the Secretary concerned shall--
(A) rather than presuming absolute control over the
covered trail by the Federal Government, encourage the
participation of volunteers and volunteer
organizations; and
(B) to the extent practicable, remedy constraints
on supporting the role of volunteers and volunteer
organizations on covered trails.
(2) Regulations.--The Secretary and the Secretary of
Agriculture shall use the rulemaking authority of section 7(i)
of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1246(i)), the
Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801 et
seq.), and any other applicable law to establish, by
regulation, a fee collection and distribution system under
which the administrator of a covered trail may collect all
permits and fees levied by federally administered areas and
State-administered areas traversed by a covered trail, to be
remitted to the applicable federally administered area or
State-administered area levying the permits and fees.
(3) Applicable law.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States
Code, shall not apply to the cooperative management of a
covered trail.
(e) Availability of Funds.--
(1) In general.--A covered trail shall be eligible for
funds made available for--
(A) a unit of the National Trails System;
(B) any federally administered area to which the
covered trail is assigned; and
(C) any federally administered area traversed by
the covered trail.
(2) Multiple agencies.--The location of a covered trail on
land managed by 1 Federal agency shall have no impact on the
eligibility of the covered trail for funding for any project,
planning, volunteer or visitor support effort, or any other
component of administering a covered trail by any other Federal
agency.
(3) Land and water conservation fund.--A covered trail
shall be eligible for amounts made available from the Land and
Water Conservation Fund established under chapter 2003 of title
54, United States Code.
(4) Partnerships.--The Secretary concerned shall use
interagency and intergovernmental partnerships to ensure the
maximum recreational and conservation potential of a covered
trail is achieved.
(f) Cooperative Agreements.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
administrator of a covered trail shall enter into a cooperative
agreement under the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244 et
seq.), for a term of not longer than 20 years, with a volunteer
organization partner, under which--
(1) the administrator of the covered trail shall delegate
to the volunteer organization partner the authority to operate
the covered trail (including the provision of financial
assistance for such purpose);
(2) operational and management responsibilities with
respect to the covered trail shall be shared between the
administrator of the covered trail and volunteer organization
partner, including subsidiaries or delegees of the volunteer
organization partner; or
(3) any other appropriate arrangement between the
administrator of the covered trail and the volunteer
organization partner authorized by the National Trails System
Act (16 U.S.C. 1244 et seq.) shall be carried out.
(g) Comprehensive Plans.--
(1) In general.--The applicable comprehensive plan--
(A) shall be incorporated into the management of
each federally administered area traversed by the
covered trail; and
(B) should be appropriately considered by State-
administered areas that are traversed by a covered
trail.
(2) Incorporation.--In updating a general management plan
or similar unit-level plan applicable to a federally
administered area traversed by a covered trail, the Secretary
concerned shall incorporate the requirements of any applicable
comprehensive plan.
(3) Rulemaking.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary concerned shall use
the rulemaking authority of section 7(i) of the
National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1246(i)) to
establish, by regulation, a process for addenda to
comprehensive plans, as appropriate, to address
location-or topic-specific administration, management,
or operation issues.
(B) Requirement.--The process established under
subparagraph (A) shall require that any addendum to a
comprehensive plan shall be developed after
consultation with the applicable land manager and
Designated Operational Partner, as applicable.
(4) Visitor capacity.--For a covered trail that is subject
to subsection (e) or (f) of section 5 of the National Trails
System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244), the applicable comprehensive plan
shall ensure that the visitor capacity requirement for the
covered trail is determined based on visitor capacities for
targeted sites, trail segments, or areas of the covered trail.
SEC. 5. IMPROVING COVERED TRAIL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Visitor Capacity.--The Secretary concerned shall determine the
visitor capacity of a covered trail that is subject to subsection (e)
or (f) of section 5 of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C.
1244)--
(1) based on the desired conditions of the specific portion
or segment of a covered trail rather than the entire covered
trail; and
(2) in accordance with applicable laws and agency policies,
including the applicable comprehensive plan.
(b) Economic Impact Assessment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every
5 years thereafter, the Secretary and the Secretary of
Agriculture shall identify 1 or more methods to assess the
economic impact of covered trails on gateway communities.
(2) Requirements.--In identifying methods under paragraph
(1), the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, to
the maximum extent practicable--
(A) aggregate and extrapolate economic impact
information from existing data, such as data from land
units on which covered trails are located;
(B) use State and county economic impact
information;
(C) partner with State and local governments; and
(D) leverage the cooperative management systems of
the covered trails and local and landscape-wide
partnerships to obtain and process relevant information
and report any relevant findings.
(c) Advancing Covered Trail Planning.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(A) the designation of a covered trail is the onset
of the long-term development and planning for the
covered trail, rather than the conclusion of those
activities; and
(B) the cultivation of partnerships, the
acquisition of land, including interests in land and
land use agreements, the conduct of accessible and
inclusive interpretation, and the development of
recreational facilities, as appropriate for covered
trails, are needed to advance the purposes of the
National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.) to
meet the ever-expanding outdoor recreation needs of the
United States.
(2) Reports.--The Secretary and the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting jointly, shall submit to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives--
(A) not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, a report that describes the
successes and challenges in developing and planning
covered trails; and
(B) not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, a report that assesses the
desired conditions and use of facilities on each
covered trail with respect to--
(i) visitor usage of specific segments or
sites of the covered trail, including the
extent to which visitors use the covered trail
in groups of not fewer than 10 individuals;
(ii) proposed priority segments or sites
for additional facilities or protection of
additional land or resources identified by
relevant cooperative management partners; and
(iii) any activities that the Secretary and
the Secretary of Agriculture determine are
necessary to advance the development of and
planning for the covered trail consistent with
the partnership nature of covered trails.
(3) Community engagement.--In preparing the reports under
paragraph (2), the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture
shall consult with--
(A) communities located in the vicinity of the
proposed segments and sites described in paragraph
(2)(B)(ii);
(B) federally recognized Indian Tribes;
(C) any Federal and State agencies that manage land
traversed by covered trails; and
(D) Designated Operational Partners and other
cooperative management partners of covered trails.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture--
(1) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, such sums
as are necessary--
(A) to carry out subsection (a);
(B) to identify the methods under subsection (b);
and
(C) to prepare the reports required under
subsection (c); and
(2) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, through
programs determined to be appropriate by the Secretary and the
Secretary, such sums as are necessary for the acquisition,
construction, and development of facilities (including the
acquisition of land or interests in land) for covered trails.
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