SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Civil 
Rights Trail Special Resource Study Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY REGARDING PROPOSED 
UNITED STATES CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall conduct a special resource study for the purpose 
of evaluating a range of alternatives for protecting and 
interpreting sites associated with the struggle for civil 
rights in the United States, including alternatives for po-
tential addition of some or all of the sites to the National 
Trails System. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall conduct 
the special resource study in consultation with appropriate 
Federal, State, county, and local governmental entities. 
(c) STUDY REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall 
conduct the study required under subsection (a) in accord-
ance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 
1a–5(c)) and section 5(b) of the National Trails System 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(b)), as appropriate. 
(d) STUDY OBJECTIVES.—In conducting the special 
resource study, the Secretary shall evaluate alternatives 
for achieving the following objectives: 
(1) Identifying the resources and historic 
themes associated with the movement to secure ra-
cial equality in the United States for African Ameri-
cans that, focusing on the period from 1954 through 
1968, challenged the practice of racial segregation in 
the Nation and achieved equal rights for all Amer-
ican citizens. 
(2) Making a review of existing studies and re-
ports, such as the Civil Rights Framework Study, to 
complement and not duplicate other studies of the 
historical importance of the civil rights movements 
that may be underway or undertaken. 
(3) Establishing connections with agencies, or-
ganizations, and partnerships already engaged in the 
preservation and interpretation of various trails and 
sites dealing with the civil rights movement. 
(4) Protecting historically significant land-
scapes, districts, sites, and structures. 
(5) Identifying alternatives for preservation and 
interpretation of the sites by the National Park 
Service, other Federal, State, or local governmental 
entities, or private and nonprofit organizations, in-
cluding the potential inclusion of some or all of the 
sites in a National Civil Rights Trail. 
(6) Identifying cost estimates for any necessary 
acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, 
and maintenance associated with the alternatives de-
veloped under the special resource study.
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
on which funds are made available to carry out this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Nat-
ural Resources of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen-
ate a report containing the results of the study conducted 
under subsection (c) and any recommendations of the Sec-
retary with respect to the route. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 29, 
2009. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 685 
AN ACT 
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a special resource study regarding the proposed 
United States Civil Rights Trail, and for other 
purposes.