II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4352 

To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Benton 

MacKaye Trail as a national scenic trail. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 15, 2024 

Mr. WARNOCK (for himself and Mr. TILLIS) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 

A BILL 

To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the 

Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a 

national scenic trail. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Benton MacKaye Na5 tional Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that the Benton MacKaye Trail— 


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1 (1) is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses 

2 approximately 287 miles over some of the most re3 nowned forests and mountains in the States of Geor4 gia, Tennessee, and North Carolina; 

5 (2) showcases a wide variety of scenic views, in6 cluding high-elevation peaks, mature forests, and se7 cluded waterfalls; 

8 (3) passes through wilderness that is rich with 

9 biodiversity; 

10 (4) passes through 6 designated wilderness 

11 areas, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 

12 and the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Cherokee, and 

13 Nantahala National Forests; 

14 (5) provides a wide array of easily accessible 

15 hikes for novice and intermediate hikers, as well as 

16 more challenging trails for backpacking; 

17 (6) supports economic opportunities for numer18 ous rural communities that benefit from the visitors 

19 to the Benton MacKaye Trail spending their money 

20 on accommodations, food, and outdoor supplies; 

21 (7) runs from Springer Mountain in the State 

22 of Georgia, through the State of Tennessee, and ex23 tends through the Great Smoky Mountains National 

24 Park in the State of North Carolina; 

25 (8) is physically accessible; and 


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1 (9) can be maintained at a minimal cost be2 cause— 

3 (A) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been 

4 maintained at the same length since 2005; 

5 (B) 95 percent of the Benton MacKaye 

6 Trail is located on Federal land; and 

7 (C) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been 

8 successfully constructed, maintained, and man9 aged by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association 

10 since 1980. 

11 SEC. 3. BENTON MACKAYE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL FEASI12 BILITY STUDY. 

13 Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 

14 U.S.C. 1244(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol15 lowing: 

16 ‘‘(50) BENTON MACKAYE TRAIL.— 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Benton MacKaye 

18 Trail, a scenic, nonmotorized trail that tra19 verses approximately 287 miles in the States of 

20 Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. 

21 ‘‘(B) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after 

22 the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 

23 Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with 

24 interested organizations (including the Benton 

25 MacKaye Trail Association), shall complete and 


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1 submit to Congress the feasibility study for des2 ignating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a na3 tional scenic trail.’’. 

Æ 


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