I 
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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Appalachian Trail Cen-
tennial Act’’. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF POLICY. 
Congress declares that— 
(1) the large landscape conservation work relat-
ing to national historic trails and national scenic 
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trails is built on partnership, collaboration, and com-
munity 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 fur-
ther 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 Sys-
tem— 
(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— 
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(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 Na-
tional 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 sub-
sidiary organizations, have coordinated the par-
ticipation of tens of thousands of volunteers for 
the planning, construction, development, main-
tenance, operation, and stewardship of the Ap-
palachian National Scenic Trail, which inspired 
the establishment of the National Trails Sys-
tem; and 
(B) are the expert, dispersed corps of vol-
unteers who provide much of the day-to-day co-
operative 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, 
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which is distinct from the management and oper-
ation 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 his-
toric trails and national scenic trails; 
(9) volunteers, volunteer organizations, and 
other cooperating individuals or entities are empow-
ered 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 manage-
ment 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 agen-
cies, are intended to be cooperatively developed 
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with appropriate non-Federal Governmental 
and nongovernmental partners. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘administra-
tion’’, 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 ‘‘com-
prehensive 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 cov-
ered trail, means the negotiated division of roles and 
responsibilities relating to the stewardship and devel-
opment of the covered trail that are— 
(A) permissible under law; and 
(B) within the categories of— 
(i) administration; 
(ii) management; and 
(iii) operation. 
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(4) COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.—The 
term ‘‘cooperative management system’’, with re-
spect to a covered trail, means the negotiated man-
agement structure for cooperative management of 
the covered trail, including— 
(A) Federal and State trust resource man-
agers; 
(B) Tribal governments; 
(C) nongovernmental organizations; and 
(D) volunteers organized by entities de-
scribed 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 enti-
ties designated for the covered trail under subpara-
graph (A) or (B) of section 4(b)(1). 
(7) GATEWAY COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘gate-
way community’’ means a municipality or unincor-
porated settlement in the vicinity of a covered trail. 
(8) MANAGEMENT.—The term ‘‘management’’, 
with respect to a covered trail, means the roles and 
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responsibilities under applicable law of the owner of 
the land, or any interest in land, on which the cov-
ered 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 activ-
ity permissible under law that— 
(i) is carried out pursuant to a coop-
erative agreement on land on which the 
covered trail is located; 
(ii) is not an activity of administra-
tion; and 
(iii) does not infringe on any manage-
ment or ownership authority of the appli-
cable 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 improve-
ment on, across, or along a covered trail; 
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(iii) the provision of services for a cov-
ered trail; 
(iv) the conceptual development of a 
covered trail; 
(v) the maintenance of the treadway 
of a covered trail; 
(vi) conducting a research project re-
lating to a covered trail; 
(vii) the provision to volunteers of 
education and training relating to methods 
of planning for, construction of, and main-
tenance of a covered trail; and 
(viii) the conservation of natural, cul-
tural, 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 cov-
ered trail administered by the Secretary; and 
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(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to a covered trail administered by the 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
(13) VISITOR CAPACITY.—The term ‘‘visitor ca-
pacity’’ 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 vis-
itor experiences that are consistent with the pur-
poses 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, includ-
ing 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. 
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(b) OPERATION.— 
(1) DESIGNATED OPERATIONAL PARTNERS.— 
(A) APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall 
designate the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as 
the Designated Operational Partner for the Ap-
palachian 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 Part-
ner 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, vol-
unteer mobilization, and land and fa-
cility management; and 
(II) would be successful partners 
for the applicable covered trail. 
(ii) DESCRIPTION OF ELIGIBLE ENTI-
TIES.—An eligible entity referred to in 
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clause (i) is an organization, institution, 
corporation, or other entity that, as deter-
mined 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, fa-
cilitating, and coordinating the serv-
ices 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 oper-
ation of the covered trail; 
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(V) adheres to reasonable finan-
cial, accounting, and risk management 
practices; 
(VI) adheres to applicable re-
quirements of Federal agreements, 
grants, and contracts; and 
(VII) would not supplant an or-
ganization already serving a substan-
tial 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 sup-
planted has failed to perform the re-
sponsibilities 
of 
the 
organization 
under a management agreement with 
respect to the covered trail. 
(iii) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—An eligible en-
tity designated as a Designated Oper-
ational Partner under clause (i) shall 
be considered to possesses unique ex-
pertise, location capacity, cost-sharing 
ability, or other unique qualities rel-
evant to the designation as a Des-
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ignated Operational Partner for the 
covered trail. 
(II) 
NO
COMPETITIVE
PROC-
ESS.—An eligible entity designated as 
a Designated Operational Partner 
under clause (i) may be a direct bene-
ficiary or recipient of appropriated 
funds without competition. 
(III) PRESENT-FUNDED
ACTIV-
ITY.—Designation of a Designated 
Operational Partner for a covered 
trail shall be considered to be a con-
tinuation or completion of a present- 
funded activity. 
(C) 
RESCISSION.—The 
Secretary 
con-
cerned may rescind the designation of an eligi-
ble entity as a Designated Operational Partner 
under subparagraph (B) if the Secretary con-
cerned determines that the eligible entity has 
ceased to meet 1 or more of the criteria de-
scribed 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 in-
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fringement or violation of a property right held 
by the Federal Government that adversely af-
fects the identified cultural, natural, scenic, rec-
reational, 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 in-
formation relating to the alleged trespass, 
infringement, or violation, including— 
(I) the nature, location, duration, 
and known identity of any alleged of-
fender; 
(II) any efforts carried out to ad-
dress the alleged violation; 
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(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 ‘‘Des-
ignated 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 man-
agement system of the applicable cov-
ered trail. 
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after the date on which a Designated 
Operational Partner provides additional in-
formation under clause (ii) to the United 
States Attorney, if applicable, the United 
States Attorney shall submit to the Sec-
retary concerned and the Designated Oper-
ational 
Partner 
information 
regarding 
whether the United States Attorney is pur-
suing 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 dis-
trict court may award to a Designated Oper-
ational Partner the costs of petitioning (includ-
ing 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 para-
graph— 
(i) limits any cause of action that the 
Federal Government may have under any 
other law; 
(ii) obligates— 
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(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 de-
fenses, 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 ac-
tion 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 Des-
ignated Operational Partner. 
(3) LAND
AND
RESOURCE
PROTECTION
PRO-
POSED PRIORITY LISTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each Designated Oper-
ational Partner shall periodically develop and 
submit to the Secretary concerned and the 
heads of any other appropriate Federal land 
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management agencies a proposed priority list 
for land and resource protection for the applica-
ble 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 protec-
tion projects. 
(C) 
CONTENTS.—A 
Designated 
Oper-
ational Partner shall include on a proposed pri-
ority list— 
(i) the location and current ownership 
of each parcel of land identified for inclu-
sion in the applicable covered trail; 
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(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 des-
ignated; and 
(v) the name of any nongovernmental 
partner committed to advancing the pro-
tection 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 gov-
ernmental, nongovernmental, Federal, and 
State partners, the scope of which shall be 
limited to a landscape or physiographic re-
gion agreed to by the Designated Oper-
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ational Partner and the Secretary con-
cerned; 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, ex-
cept to the extent that the Secretary 
concerned determines, based on con-
siderations 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 in-
cluded on the proposed priority 
list should not be prioritized; or 
(bb) a parcel of land not in-
cluded on the proposed priority 
list should be prioritized; and 
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(II) a State is encouraged to in-
corporate 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 con-
cerned 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 con-
cerned shall submit to the Designated 
Operational Partner notice of the deter-
mination, 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 Secre-
taries concerned with respect to advancing land 
and resource conservation objectives under pro-
posed priority lists. 
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(G) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to each of the Secretary and the Sec-
retary of Agriculture such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out planning activities relating 
to the development, updating, and implementa-
tion of proposed priority lists under this para-
graph. 
(4) ACCEPTANCE
OR
REJECTION
OF
COM-
PREHENSIVE PLANS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sub-
sections (e) and (f) of section 5 of the National 
Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244), a Des-
ignated Operational Partner may accept or re-
ject— 
(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)). 
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(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 sub-
mitted to Congress, the Secretary concerned 
shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives a report that describes the 
basis for the submission of the rejected com-
prehensive plan or amendment or revision to 
the comprehensive plan by the Secretary con-
cerned. 
(5) SURPLUS PERSONAL PROPERTY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sub-
chapter 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 Part-
ner 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)). 
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(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 sub-
division of the Designated Operational Partner) 
may not— 
(i) use the transferred property for 
purposes other than carrying out the du-
ties 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 co-
operative management system of the cov-
ered trail. 
(c) MANAGEMENT.—Nothing in this Act or the Na-
tional 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 authoriza-
tion 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 
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seq.), removes or transfers any authority otherwise 
provided by law; or 
(3) except as authorized by the processes estab-
lished under this Act or the National Trails System 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.), provides any Des-
ignated Operational Partner, other volunteer organi-
zation, 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 im-
pact the ability of volunteers or a volunteer organi-
zation 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 Govern-
ment, encourage the participation of volunteers 
and volunteer organizations; and 
(B) to the extent practicable, remedy con-
straints 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 
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authority of section 7(i) of the National Trails Sys-
tem 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 admin-
istered 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 coopera-
tive management of a covered trail. 
(e) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A covered trail shall be eligi-
ble 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 tra-
versed 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 
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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 partner-
ships to ensure the maximum recreational and con-
servation 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 Na-
tional Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244 et seq.), for a 
term of not longer than 20 years, with a volunteer organi-
zation 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 be-
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tween the administrator of the covered trail and vol-
unteer 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 volun-
teer 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 comprehen-
sive plan— 
(A) shall be incorporated into the manage-
ment of each federally administered area tra-
versed 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 applica-
ble to a federally administered area traversed by a 
covered trail, the Secretary concerned shall incor-
porate the requirements of any applicable com-
prehensive plan. 
(3) RULEMAKING.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary con-
cerned 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-spe-
cific administration, management, or operation 
issues. 
(B) REQUIREMENT.—The process estab-
lished under subparagraph (A) shall require 
that any addendum to a comprehensive plan 
shall be developed after consultation with the 
applicable land manager and Designated Oper-
ational 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 DE-
VELOPMENT. 
(a) VISITOR CAPACITY.—The Secretary concerned 
shall determine the visitor capacity of a covered trail that 
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is subject to subsection (e) or (f) of section 5 of the Na-
tional Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244)— 
(1) based on the desired conditions of the spe-
cific 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 comprehen-
sive plan. 
(b) ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and not less fre-
quently than once every 5 years thereafter, the Sec-
retary 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 Sec-
retary 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; 
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(C) partner with State and local govern-
ments; and 
(D) leverage the cooperative management 
systems of the covered trails and local and land-
scape-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 plan-
ning for the covered trail, rather than the con-
clusion of those activities; and 
(B) the cultivation of partnerships, the ac-
quisition of land, including interests in land and 
land use agreements, the conduct of accessible 
and inclusive interpretation, and the develop-
ment 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-expand-
ing outdoor recreation needs of the United 
States. 
(2) REPORTS.—The Secretary and the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, acting jointly, shall submit to 
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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 indi-
viduals; 
(ii) proposed priority segments or 
sites for additional facilities or protection 
of additional land or resources identified 
by relevant cooperative management part-
ners; 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 con-
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sistent with the partnership nature of cov-
ered 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 cov-
ered 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 sub-
section (b); and 
(C) to prepare the reports required under 
subsection (c); and 
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(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 de-
velopment of facilities (including the acquisition of 
land or interests in land) for covered trails. 
Æ 
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