National Trails System Act Amendments of 1983
PL 98-11 (S.271), enacted 03/28/1983

97 STAT. 42 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
Public Law 98-11 
98th Congress 
Mar. 28, 1983 
[S. 271] 
National Trails 
System Act, 
amendment. 
16 use 1249 
note. 
National Trails 
System Act 
Amendments of 
1983. 
16 use 1241 
note. 
16 use 1242. 
An Act 
To amend the National Trails System Act by designating additional national scenic 
and historic trails, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I—LIMITATION ON APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 101. Authorizations of appropriations under this Act shall be 
effective only for the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 1983, and 
subsequent fiscal years. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
Act, authority to enter into contracts, and to make pajnnents, under 
this Act shall be effective only to such extent or in such amounts as 
are provided in advance in appropriation Acts. 
TITLE n—AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL TRAILS 
SYSTEM ACT 
SEC. 201. This title may be cited as the "National Trails System 
Act Amendments of 1983". 
SEC 202. Section 2 of the National Trails System Act (82 Stat. 919; 
16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking out "the purpose" and insert-
ing in lieu thereof "The purpose"; and 
(2) by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(c) The Congress recognizes the valuable contributions that vol-
unteers and private, nonprofit trail groups have made to the devel-
opment and maintenance of the Nation's trails. In recognition of 
these contributions, it is further the purpose of this Act to encour-
age and assist volunteer citizen involvement in the planning, devel-
opment, maintenance, and management, where appropriate, of 
trails.". 
SEC. 203. Section 3 of the National Trails System Act is 
amended— 
(1) by striking out "composed of—" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "composed of the following:"; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (a) through (d) as paragraphs 
(1) through (4), respectively, and by inserting "(a)" after "SEC. 
3."; 
(3) in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) (as so redesignated), by 
adding at the end thereof the following: "National scenic trails 
may be located so as to represent desert, marsh, grassland, 
mountain, canyon, river, forest, and other areas, as well as 
landforms which exhibit significant characteristics of the 
physiographic regions of the Nation."; 
(4) in the fourth sentence of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) (as 
so redesignated), by striking out "Act, are established as initial" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "Act are included as"; 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
97 STAT. 43 
(5) in the fifth sentence of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) (as so 
redesignated), by striking out "subsequently"; and 
(6) by adding at the end thereof the following new subsections: 
"(b) For purposes of this section, the term 'extended trails' means 
trails or trail segments which total at least one hundred miles in 
length, except that historic trails of less than one hundred miles 
may be designated as extended trails. While it is desirable that 
extended traius be continuous, studies of such trails may conclude 
that it is feasible to propose one or more trail segments which, in the 
aggregate, constitute at least one hundred miles in length. 
"(c) On October 1, 1982, and at the beginning of each odd num-
bered fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
submit to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives 
and to the President of the United States Senate, an initial and 
revised (respectively) National Trails System plan. Such comprehen-
sive plan shall indicate the scope and extent of a completed nation-
wide system of trails, to include (1) desirable nationally significant 
scenic and historic components which are considered necessary to 
complete a comprehensive national system, and (2) other trails 
which would balance out a complete and comprehensive nationwide 
system of trails. Such plan, and the periodic revisions thereto, shall 
be prepared in full consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, 
the Governors of the various States, and the trails community.". 
SEC. 204. Section 4(b) of the National Trails System Act is 
amended— 
(1) in clauses (i) and (ii) by striking out "Secretary of the 
Interior" and inserting in lieu thereof appropriate Secretary"; 
(2) in clause (i), by striking out "agencies, and" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "agencies;"; 
(3) in clause (ii), by striking out the period at the end thereof 
and inserting in lieu thereof ; and"; and 
(4) by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(iii) trails on privately owned lands may be designated 
'National Recreation Traik* by the appropriate Secretary with 
the written consent of the owner of the property involved.". 
SEC. 205. (a) Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(11) The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, a corridor of 
approximately seven hundred and four miles following the route as 
generally depicted on the map identified as 'National Trails System, 
Proposed Potomac Heritage Trail' in 'The Potomac Heritage Trail', 
a report prepared by the Department of the Interior and dated 
December 1974, except that no designation of the trail shall be made 
in the State of West Virginia. The map shall be on file and available 
for public inspection in the office of the Director of the National 
Park Service, Washington, District of Columbia. The trail shall 
initially consist of only those segments of the corridor located within 
the exterior boundaries of federally administered areas. No lands or 
interests therein outside the exterior boundaries of any federally 
administered area may be acquired by the Federal Government for 
the Potomac Heritage Trail. The Secretary of the Interior may 
designate lands outside of federally administered areas as segments 
of the trail, only upon application from the States or local govern-
mental agencies involved, if such segments meet the criteria estab-
lished in this Act and are administered by such agencies without 
expense to the United States. The trail shall be administered by the 
Secretary of the Interior. 
"Extended 
trails." 
Plan submittal. 
16 u s e 1243. 
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Potomac 
Heritage 
National Scenic 
Trail. 
Map; public 
availability. 
97 STAT. 44 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
Natchez Trace 
National Scenic 
Trail. 
Map; public 
availability. 
Florida National 
Scenic Trail. 
Report; public 
availability. 
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"(12) The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, a trail system of 
approximately six hundred and ninety-four miles extendmg from 
Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi, as depicted on the 
map entitled 'Concept Plan, Natchez Trace Trails Study' in 'The 
Natchez Trace', a report prepared by the Department of the Interior 
and dated August 1979. The map shall be on file and available for 
gublic inspection in the office of the Director of the National Park 
ervice, Department of the Interior, Washington, District of Colum-
bia. The trail shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior. 
"(13) The Florida National Scenic Trail, a route of approximately 
thirteen hundred miles extending through the State of Florida as 
generally depicted in 'The Florida Trail', a national scenic trail 
study draft report prepared by the Department of the Interior and 
dated February 1980. The report shall be on file and available for 
public inspection in the office of the Chief of the Forest Service, 
Washington, District of Columbia. No lands or interests therein 
outside the exterior boundaries of any federally administered area 
may be acquired by the Federal Government for the Florida Trail 
except with the consent of the owner thereof. The Secretary of 
Agriculture may designate lands outside of federally administered 
areas as segments of the trail, only upon application from the States 
or local governmental agencies involved, if such segments meet the 
criteria established in this Act and are administered by such agen-
cies without expense to the United States. The trail shall be admin-
istered by the Secretary of Agriculture.". 
(b) Section 5(b) of the National Trails System Act is amended— 
(1) by inserting after the second sentence the following: "The 
feasibility of designating a trail shall be determined on the basis 
of an evaluation of whether or not it is physically possible to 
develop a tredl along a route being studied, and whether the 
development of a trail would be financially feasible."; 
(2) in paragraph (bX3), by inserting ''!&' before "U.S.C"; and 
(3) in paragraph (bXllXB) by inserting the word "explora-
tion," after "commerce," in the first sentence. 
(c) Section 5(c) of the National Trails Svstem Act is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (9), by striking out Sante Fe" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "Santa Fe"; and 
(2) by adding after paragraph (23) the following: 
"(24) Juan Bautista de Anza Trail, following the overland route 
taken by Juan Bautista de Anza in connection with his travels from 
the United Mexican States to San Francisco, California. 
"(25) Trail of Tears, including the associated forts and specifically, 
Fort Mitchell, Alabama, and historic properties, extending from the 
vicinity of Murphy, North Carolina, through Georgia, Alabama, 
Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas, to the vicin-
ity of Tsihlequah, Oklahoma. 
"(26) Illinois Trail, extending from the Lewis and CJlark Trail at 
Wood River, Illinois, to the Chicago Portage National Historic Site, 
generally following the Illinois River and the Illinois and Michigan 
Canal. 
"(27) Jedediah Smith Trail, to include the routes of the explora-
tions led by Jedediah Smith— 
"(A) during the period 1826-1827, extending from the Idaho-
Wyoming border, through the Great Salt Lake, Sevier, Virgin, 
and Colorado River Valleys, and the Mojave Desert, to the San 
Gabriel Mission, California; thence through the Tehachapi 
Mountains, San Joaquin and Stanislaus River Valleys, EJbbetts 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
97 STAT. 45 
Pass, Walker River Valley, Bald Mount, Mount Grafton, and 
Great Salt Lake to Bear Lake, Utah; and 
"(B) during 1828, extending from the Sacramento and Trinity 
River Valleys along the Pacific coastline, through the Smith 
and Willamette River Valleys to the Fort Vancouver National 
Historic Site, Washington, on the Columbia River. 
"(28) General Crook Trail, extending from Prescott, Arizona, 
across the MogoUon Rim to Fort Apache. 
"(29) Beale Wagon Road, within the Kaibab and Coconino 
National Forests in Arizona: Provided, That such study may be 
prepared in conjunction with ongoing planning processes for these 
National Forests to be completed before 1990.". 
(d) Section 5(d) of the National Trails System Act is amended— 1
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(1) by inserting after the first sentence the following: "If the 
appropriate Secretary is unable to establish such an advisory 
council because of the lack of adequate public interest, the 
Secretary shall so advise the appropriate committees of the 
Congress."; and 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (i) through (iv) as paragraphs 
(1) through (4), respectively, and by amending paragraph (1) (as 
so redesignated) to read as follows: 
"(1) the head of each Federal department or independent 
agency administering lands through which the trail route 
passes, or his designee;". 
(e) Section 5(f) of the National Trails System Act is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking out "national recreational" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "national historic", and by striking 
out "and" after the semicolon; 
(2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (2) and 
inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(3) a protection plan for any high potential historic sites or 
high potential route segments; and 
"(4) general and site-specific development plans, including 
anticinated costs " 
SEC. 206. Section 6 of the National Trails System Act is 1
6 use 1245. 
amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by inserting "by the appropriate 
Secretary" after "marked"; and 
(2) by striking out ": Provided" and all that follows through 
the period and inserting in lieu thereof the following: ", or, 
where the appropriate Secretary deems necessary or desirable, 
on privately owned lands with the consent of the landowner. 
Applications for approval and designation of connecting and 
side trails on non-Federal lands shall be submitted to the 
appropriate Secretary.". 
SEC. 207. (a) Section 7 of the National Trails System Act is 1
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amended— 
(1) by striking out "SEC. 7. (a)" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"(2)"; and 
(2) by inserting the following immediately after the section 
heading: 
"SEC. 7. (aXlXA) The Secretary charged with the overall adminis-
tration of a trail pursuant to section 5(a) shall, in administering and ^nte, p. 43. 
managing the trml, consult with the heads of all other affected State 
and Federal agencies. Nothing contained in this Act shall be deemed 
to transfer among Federal agencies any management responsibil-
97 STAT. 46 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
Management 
transference, 
procedure. 
Ante, p. 43. 
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Trail 
interpretation 
sites. 
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Procedures or 
regulations. 
ities established under any other law for federally administered 
lands which are components of the National Trails System. Any 
transfer of management responsibilities may be carried out between 
the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture only 
as provided under subparagraph (B). 
(B) The Secretary charged with the overall administration of any 
trail pursuant to section 5(a) may transfer management of any 
specified trail segment of such trail to the other appropriate Secre-
tary pursuant to a joint memorandum of agreement containing such 
terms and conditions as the Secretaries consider most appropriate to 
accomplish the purposes of this Act. During any period in which 
management responsibilities for any trail segment are transferred 
under such an eigreement, the management of any such segment 
shall be subject to the laws, rules, and regulations of the Secretary 
provided with the management authority under the agreement, 
except to such extent as the agreement may otherwise expressly 
provide."; 
(3) in the first sentence of paragraph (2) of this subsection (a) 
(as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection), by striking 
out "thereof, and inserting in lieu thereof "of the availability 
of appropriate maps or descriptions", and striking out 
", together with appropriate maps and descriptions". 
(b) Section 7(b) is amended— 
(1) by inserting "of the availability of appropriate maps or 
descriptions" after "notice"; and 
(2) by striking out "together with appropriate maps and 
descriptions,". 
(c) Section 7(c) is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
following: "The appropriate Secretary may also provide for trail 
interpretation sites, which shall be located at historic sites along the 
route of any national scenic or national historic trail, in order to 
present information to the public about the trail, at the lowest 
possible cost, with emphasis on the portion of the trail passing 
through the State in which the site is located. Wherever possible, 
the sites shall be maintained by a State agency under a cooperative 
agreement between the appropriate Secretary and the State 
agency.". 
(d) Section 7(e) of the National Trails System Act is amended by— 
(1) deleting reference in the first sentence to "subsection (g)" 
and substituting, in lieu thereof, "subsection (f)"; and 
(2) by deleting the period at the end of the first sentence, and 
in lieu thereof, substituting a colon and the following proviso: 
"Provided further, That the appropriate Secretary may acquire 
lands or interests therein from local governments or govern-
mental corporations with the consent of such entities.". 
(e) Section 7(f) of the Nationsd Trails System Act is amended by 
inserting "(1)" after "(f)" and by adding at the end thereof the 
following: 
"(2) In acquiring lands or interests therein for a National Scenic 
or Historic Trail, the appropriate Secretary may, with consent of a 
landowner, acquire whole tracts notwithstanding that parts of such 
tracts may lie outside the area of trail acquisition. In furtherance of 
the purposes of this Act, lands so acquired outside the area of trail 
acquisition may be exchanged for any non-Federal lands or interests 
therein within the trail right-of-way, or disposed of in accordance 
with such procedures or regulations as the appropriate Secretary 
shall prescribe, including: (i) provisions for conveyance of such 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
97 STAT. 47 
acquired lands or interests therein at not less than fair market 
value to the highest bidder, and (ii) provisions for allowing the last 
owners of record a right to purchase said acquired lands or interests 
therein upon pa3ntnent or agreement to pay an amount equal to the 
highest bid price. For lands designated for exchange or disposal, the 
appropriate Secretary may convey these lands with any reservations 
or covenants deemed desirable to further the purposes of this Act. 
The proceeds from any disposal shall be credited to the appropri-
ation bearing the costs of land acquisition for the affected trail.". 
(f) Section 7(g) of the National Trails System Act is amended in 
16 use 1246. 
the last sentence by striking out "No" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"Except for designated protected components of the trail, no". 
(g) Section 7(h) of the National Trails System Act is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(1)" after "(h)"; 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking out "a national scenic 
or national historic trail" and inserting in lieu thereof "such a 
trail"; 
(3) by inserting after the second sentence the following: "Such 
agreements may include provisions for limited financial assist-
ance to encourage participation in the acquisition, protection, 
operation, development, or maintenance of such trails, provi-
sions providing volunteer in the park or volunteer in the forest 
status (in accordance with the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 
1969 and the Volunteers in the Forests Act of 1972) to individ- 16 use I8g note, 
uals, private organizations, or landowners participating in such ^^^^ ^°^-
activities, or provisions of both tjrpes. The appropriate Secretary 
shall also initiate consultations with affected States and their 
political subdivisions to encourage— 
"(A) the development and implementation by such enti-
ties of appropriate measures to protect private landowners 
from trespass resulting from trail use and from unreason-
able personal liability and property damage caused by trail 
use, and 
"(B) the development and implementation by such enti-
ties of provisions for land practices, compatible with the 
purposes of this Act, 
for property within or adjacent to trail rights-of-way. After 
consulting with States and their political subdivisions under the 
preceding sentence, the Secretary may provide assistance to 
such entities under appropriate cooperative agreements in the 
manner provided by this subsection. ; and 
(4) by striking out "Whenever the" in the last sentence of 
such subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
"(2) Whenever the". 
(h) Section 7(i) of the National Trails System Act is amended by 
16 USC 1246. 
adding at the end thereof the following new sentence: "The Secre-
tary responsible for the administration of any segment of any 
component of the National Trails System (as determined in a 
manner consistent with subsection (a)(1) of this section) may also 
utilize authorities related to units of the national park system or the 
national forest system, as the case may be, in carr3dng out his 
administrative responsibilities for such component.". 
(i) Section 7 of the National Trails System Act is amended by 
inserting after subsection (i) the following: 
"(j) Potential trail uses allowed on designated components of the 
Trail, uses. 
national trails system may include, but are not limited to, the 
following: bicycling, cross-country skiing, day hiking, equestrian 
97 STAT. 48 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
26 use 170 and 
note. 
16 use 1247. 
activities, jogging or similar fitness activities, trail biking, overnight 
£ind long-distance backpacking, snowmobiling, and surface water 
and underwater activities. Vehicles which may be permitted on 
certain trails may include, but need not be limited to, motorcycles, 
bicycles, four-wheel drive or all-terrain off-road vehicles. In ad(Ution, 
Restrictions. 
trail access for handicapped individuals may be provided. The provi-
sions of this subsection shall not supersede any other provisions of 
this Act or other Federal laws, or any State or local laws. 
"(k) For the conservation purpose of preserving or enhancing the 
recreational, scenic, natural, or historical values of components of 
the national trails system, and environs thereof as determined by 
the appropriate Secretary, landowners are authorized to donate or 
otherwise convey qualifieid real property interests to qualified orga-
nizations consistent with section 170(hX3) of the Internal Revenue 
26 use 170. 
Code of 1954, including, but not limited to, right-of-way, open space, 
scenic, or conservation easements, without regard to any limitation 
on the nature of the estate or interest otherwise transferable within 
the jurisdiction where the land is located. The conveyance of any 
such interest in land in accordance with this subsection shall be 
deemed to further a Federal conservation policy and yield a signifi-
cant public benefit for purposes of section 6 of Public Law 96-541.". 
SEC. 208. Section 8 of the National Trails System Act is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: 
"(d) The Secretary of Transportation, the Chairman of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, and the Secretary of the Interior, in 
administering the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform 
Act of 1976, shall encourage State and local agencies and private 
interests to establish appropriate trails using the provisions of such 
programs. Coiisistent with the purposes of that Act, and in further-
ance of the national policy to preserve established railroad rights-of-
way for future reactivation of rail service, to protect rail transporta-
tion corridors, and to encourage energy efficient transportation use, 
in the case of interim use of any established railroad rights-of-way 
pursuant to donation, transfer, lease, sale, or otherwise in a manner 
consistent with the National Trails System Act, if such interim use 
is subject to restoration or reconstruction for railroad purposes, such 
interim use shall not be treated, for purposes of any law or rule of 
law, £is an abandonment of the use of such rights-of-way for railroad 
purposes. If a State, political subdivision, or qualified private organi-
zation is prepared to assume full responsibility for management of 
such rights-of-way and for any legal liability arising out of such 
transfer or use, and for the payment of any and all taxes that may 
be levied or assessed against such rights-of-way, then the Commis-
sion shall impose such terms and conditions as a requirement of any 
transfer or conveyance for interim use in a manner consistent with 
this Act, and shall not permit abandonment or discontinuance 
inconsistent or disruptive of such use.". 
1
6 use 1249. 
SEC. 209. Section 10 of the National Trails System Act is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting "(aXD" after "SEC. 10."; 
(2) by striking out "(a) The" in the second sentence and 
inserting in lieu thereof "for the"; 
(3) by striking out "It is the express intent" and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following: 
"(2) It is the express intent^'; 
45 use 801 note. 
Redlroad rights-
of-way. 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
97 STAT. 49 
(4) in subsection (aX2) (as designated bv paragraph (3) of this 
subsection), by inserting "Appalachian before "Trail"; and 
(5) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by mserting "(1)" after "(c)"; 
(B) by inserting before the period at the end of paragraph 
(1) (as designated by subparagraph (A) of this pars^aph) ", 
except that funds may be expended for the acquisition of 
lands or interests therein for the purpose of providing for 
one trail interpretation site, as described in section 7(c), 
along with such trail in each State crossed by the trail"; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end of each such subsection the 
following: 
"(2) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
1983 and subsequent fiscal years such sums as may be necessary to 
implement the provisions of this Act relating to the trails designated 
by paragraphs (9) through (13) of section 5(a) of this Act. Not more 
than $500,000 may be appropriated for the purposes of acquisition of 
land and interests therein for the trail designated by section 5(a)(12) 
of this Act, and not more than $2,000,000 may be appropriated for 
the purposes of the development of such trail. The administering 
agency for the trail shall encourage volunteer trail groups to partici-
pate in the development of the trail.". 
SEC. 210. The National Trails System Act is amended by adding 
the following new sections at the end thereof: 
Ante, p. 46. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Ante, p. 43. 
16 u s e 18g note, 
558a note. 
VOLUNTEER TRAILS ASSISTANCE 
"SEC. 11. (aXD In addition to the cooperative agreement and other 1
6 use 1250. 
authorities contained in this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, and the head of any Federal agency 
administering Federal lands, are authorized to encourage volunteers 
and volunteer organizations to plan, develop, maintain, and 
manage, where appropriate, trails throughout the Nation. 
"(2) Wherever appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of this 
Act, the Secretaries are authorized and encouraged to utilize the 
Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969, the Volunteers in the Forests 
Act of 1972, and section 6 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
Act of 1965 (relating to the development of Statewide Comprehen- 1
6 U
S
C 460/-8. 
sive Outdoor Recreation Plans). 
"(b) Each Secretary or the head of any Federal land managing 
agency may assist volunteers and volunteer organizations in plan-
ning, developing, maintaining, and managing trails. Volunteer work 
may include, but need not be limited to— 
"(1) planning, developing, maintaining, or managing (A) trails 
which are components of the national trails system, or (B) trails 
which, if so developed and maintained, could qualify for desig-
nation as components of the national trails system; or 
"(2) operating programs to organize and supervise volunteer 
trail building efforts with respect to the trails referred to in 
paragraph (1), conducting trail-related research projects, or pro-
viding education and training to volunteers on methods of trails 
planning, construction, and maintenance. 
"(c) The appropriate Secretary or the head of any Federal land 
managing agency may utilize and make available Federal facilities, 
equipment, tools, and technical assistance to volunteers and volun-
teer organizations, subject to such limitations and restrictions as the 
97 STAT. 50 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
appropriate Secretary or the head of any Federal land managmg 
agency deems necessary or desirable. 
Definitions. 
"SEC. 12. As iised in this Act: 
1
6 use 1251. 
«*(i) The term 'high potential historic sites* means those his-
toric sites related to the route, or sites in close proximity 
thereto, which provide opportunity to interpret the historic 
si^tiificance of the trail during the period of its major use. 
Criteria for consideration as high potential sites include historic 
significance, presence of visible historic remnants, scenic qual-
ity, and relative freedom from intrusion. 
"(2) The term 'high potential route segments' means those 
segments of a trail which would afford high quality recreation 
experience in a portion of the route having greater than aver-
age scenic values or affording an opportunity to vicariously 
share the experience of the original users of a historic route. 
"(3) The term 'State' means each of the several States of the 
United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
Trust Territory of the Pacific felands, the Northern Mariana 
Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United 
States. 
"(4) The term 'without expense to the United States' means 
that no funds may be expended by Federal agencies for the 
development of trail related facilities or for the acquisition of 
lands or interests in lands outside the exterior boundaries of 
Federal areas. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, 
amounts made available to any State or political subdivision 
under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 or 
1
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6
0
Z
-
4 
any other provision of law shall not be treated as an expense to 
note. 
the United States.". 
TITLE III—DESIGNATION OF THE "BIZZ JOHNSON TRAIL" 
SEC. 301. The Congress finds that Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson, for 
twenty-two years a IJnited States Representative from the State of 
California, should be afforded recognition for his deep appreciation 
and respect for the mountains, forests, rivers, and fertile valleys of 
northern California, and for his sustained efforts to protect areas 
especially suited to outdoor recreation and the enjojnnent of nature, 
and to assure public access thereto. Bizz Johnson took an early and 
leading interest in proposals to convert an abandoned railroad right-
of-way in Lassen County to a twenty-five-mile trail to provide access 
to the undeveloped Susan River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada 
Mountains for hikers, horseback riders, cross-country skiers, handi-
capped individuals, and others. As Representative for the First 
Congressional District he worked with, and provided major assist-
ance to, local groups, officials of the city of Susanville and the 
county of Lassen, the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest 
Service, and the Trust for Public Land in implementing plans for 
the project. 
SEC. 302. The Susanville-Westwood Rails to Trails project 
described in a joint Bureau of Land Management/Forest Service 
Recreation Land Acquisition Composite, converting an abandoned 
railbed in Lassen County, California, extending from the county seat 
in Susanville westward twenty-five miles to Mason Junction, four 
mUes from the community of Westwood, and traversing the Susan 
River Canyon, to a public recreation trail is hereby designated and 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
97 STAT. 51 
hereafter shall be known as the "Bizz Johnson Trail". Any law, 
regulation, record, map, or other document of the United States 
referring to this trail shall be held to refer to the "Bizz Johnson 
TVail", and any future regulations, records, maps, or other docu-
ments of the United States, in reference to this trail, shall bear the 
name "Bizz Johnson Trail". 
SEC. 303. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed, 
in cooperation with the city of Susanville and the county of Lassen, 
State of Csdifomia, to design and erect at a suitable location along 
the Bizz Johnson TVail an appropriate marker in commemoration of 
the outstanding contributions of Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson toward 
the protection of undeveloped scenic areas of northern California for 
the use and enjo5mient of the American people, in perpetuity. 
SEC. 304. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
are necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. 
TITLE IV—ROY TAYLOR FOREST 
SEC. 401. The Congress finds and declares that Roy Taylor, for 
sixteen years a United States Representative from the State of 
North Carolina, a member of the Committee on Interior and Insular 
Affairs, and chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks and 
Recreation, should be afforded recognition for his deep appreciation, 
affection and respect for the mountains, forests, and streams of 
western North Carolina, and for his sustained efforts to protect 
areas especially suited to outdoor recreation and the enjoyment of 
nature, and to assure public access thereto. 
SEC. 402. The thirty-nine thousand acres of forested mountain 
land within the Nantahala National Forest in Jackson County, 
North Carolina, commonly referred to as the Balsam-Bonas Defeat 
area, are hereby designated and hereafter shall be known as the 
"Roy Taylor Forest". Any law, regulation, record, map, or other 
document of the United States referring to this land shall be held to 
refer to the "Roy Taylor Forest", and any future regulations, 
records, maps, or other documents of the United States, in reference 
to this area of the Nantahala National Forest, shall bear the name 
"Roy Taylor Forest". 
SEC. 403. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed, 
in cooperation with the county of Jackson, State of North Carolina, 
to design and erect at a suitable location in the Roy Taylor Forest 
area an appropriate marker in commemoration of the outstanding 
contributions of Roy Taylor toward the protection of public lands in 
western North Carolina and the Nation for the use and enjoyment 
of the American people. 
SEC. 404. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed 
to make designations regarding the Roy Taylor Forest area in 
publications produced for the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Secretary is 
further authorized to erect appropriate signs at a suitable location 
on the Blue Ridge Parkway to commemorate the contributions of 
Roy Taylor and the designation of the forest area authorized in this 
title. 
SEC. 405. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
are necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
97 STAT. 52 
PUBLIC LAW 98-11—MAR. 28, 1983 
TITLE V—COMMEMORATION OF THE TRAVELS OF WILLIAM 
BARTRAM 
SEC. 501. (a) The Congress finds that— 
(1) William Bartram's travels contributed to natural history, 
literature, and exploration and are of national and regional 
si^iificance; 
(2) a wider segment of the public should be afforded the 
opportunity to share in Bartram's natural, cultural, and his-
toric resource contributions to America's heritage; and 
(3) a segmented William Bartram Heritage Trail would be a 
practical and appropriate conmiemoration to a great American 
naturalist worthy of national recognition. 
Donations. 
(b) In Order that significant route segments and sites, recognized 
as associated with the travels of William Bartram may be distin-
guished by suitable markers, the Secretary of the Interior is author-
ized to accept the donations of such suitable markers for placement 
at appropriate locations on lands administered by the Secretary of 
the Interior and, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Agricul-
ture and other appropriate heads of Federal agencies, on lands 
under their jurisdiction. The determination of the placement of 
markers to commemorate the travels of William Bartram shall be 
made by the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the 
Bartram Trail conference and affected local and State governments. 
Such markers shall be placed by the Secretary of the Interior 
pursuant to the authority granted by the Act entitled "An Act to 
provide for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, 
objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other pur-
1
6 use 461 note, poses", approved August 21,1935 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). 
(c) The markers authorized by subsection O
i
>
) shall be placed in 
association with the William Bsui^ram Trail segments identified on 
maps contained in the study entitled "Bartram Trail, National 
Scenic/Historic Trail Study", dated February 1982, and submitted to 
the Congress pursuant to the provisions of section 5 of the National 
Trails Systems Act (16 U.S.C. 1244). 
Approved March 28, 1983. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 271: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 98-28 (Ck)mm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 98-1 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 129 (1983): 
Feb. 3, considered and passed Senate. 
Mar. 15, considered and passed House.