Rachel Carson Nature Trail Designation Act of 2013

To designate the Rachel Carson Nature Trail, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rachel Carson Nature Trail Designation Act of 2013 2. Findings Congress finds that Rachel Carson— (1) was born on May 27, 1907, on a farm in Springdale, Pennsylvania, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the Pennsylvania College for Women (later Chatham College), and was awarded a full scholarship that enabled her to obtain a master’s degree in marine zoology from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; (2) was a world-renowned environmental scientist, writer, and educator; (3) worked as a writer, editor, and ultimately Editor-in-Chief for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s publications department; (4) published the groundbreaking book Silent Spring in September 1962, which was translated into more than a dozen foreign languages and inspired the environmental movement; (5) used the National Park Service’s Glover Archbold Park in the District of Columbia for her observations and study of nature and the environment; (6) accomplished much of her professional work at the United States Department of the Interior in the District of Columbia; (7) performed research on pesticides, the findings of which were sustained by a Science Advisory Committee appointed during President John F. Kennedy’s administration, and resulted in State legislatures enacting pesticide-regulating legislation; (8) was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received many other honors; (9) passed away on April 14, 1964, in Silver Spring, Maryland; and (10) leaves a rich legacy that will continue to benefit present and future generations well beyond the 50th anniversary of Silent Spring in September 2012. 3. Designation of the Rachel Carson Trail (a) Designation The trail located in Glover Archbold Park in the District of Columbia from Canal Road to Van Ness Street, designated by the National Park Service as Reservation 351 and 450, shall be designated and known as the Rachel Carson Nature Trail (b) Reference Any reference in any law, regulations, document, record, map, paper, or other record of the United States to the trail referred to in subsection (a) is deemed to be a reference to the Rachel Carson Nature Trail (c) Signage The Secretary of the Interior shall post signs on or near the Rachel Carson Nature Trail that include one or more of the following: (1) Information on Rachel Carson and her contributions to the environmental movement. (2) Images of Rachel Carson. (3) References to Rachel Carson’s efforts to educate others about the importance of environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability.

Summary: Rachel Carson Nature Trail Designation Act of 2013 - Designates a trail located in Glover Archbold Park in the District of Columbia from Canal Road to Van Ness Street as the "Rachel Carson Nature Trail." Directs the Secretary of the Interior to post signs on or near the Trail that include one or more of the following: (1) information on Rachel Carson and her contributions to the environmental movement; (2) images of her; and (3) references to her efforts to educate others about the importance of environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability.