Collapse to view only § 583k. Findings
- § 583k. Findings
- § 583k-1. Definitions
- § 583k-2. National Forest System Trails Volunteer and Partnership Strategy
- § 583k-3. Priority trail maintenance program
- § 583k-4. Cooperative agreements
- § 583k-5. Stewardship credits for outfitters and guides
§ 583k. Findings
Congress finds as follows:
(1) The National Forest System features a world-class trail system with over 157,000 miles of trails that provide world-class opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, hunting, mountain bicycling, motorized vehicles, and other outdoor activities.
(2) According to the Government Accountability Office, the Forest Service is only able to maintain about one-quarter of National Forest System trails to the agency standard, and the agency faces a trail maintenance backlog of $314 million, and an additional backlog of $210 million in annual maintenance, capital improvements, and operations.
(3) The lack of maintenance on National Forest System trails threatens access to public lands, and may cause increased environmental damage, threaten public safety, and increase future maintenance costs.
(4) Federal budget limitations require solutions to National Forest System trail maintenance issues that make more efficient use of existing resources.
(5) Volunteers, partners, and outfitters and guides play an important role in maintaining National Forest System trails, and a comprehensive strategy is needed to ensure that volunteers and partners are used as effectively as possible.
(Pub. L. 114–245, § 2, Nov. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 990.)
§ 583k–1. Definitions
In this subchapter:
(1) Administrative Unit
(2) Outfitter or guide
(3) Partner
(4) Partnership
(5)
(6) Secretary
(7) Strategy
(8) Trail maintenance
The term “trail maintenance” means any activity to maintain the usability and sustainability of trails within the National Forest System, including—
(A) ensuring trails are passable by the users for which they are managed;
(B) preventing environmental damage resulting from trail deterioration;
(C) protecting public safety; and
(D) averting future deferred maintenance costs.
(9) Volunteer
(Pub. L. 114–245, § 3, Nov. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 990.)
§ 583k–2. National Forest System Trails Volunteer and Partnership Strategy
(a) In general
(b) Required elements
The strategy required by subsection (a) shall—
(1) augment and support the capabilities of Federal employees to carry out or contribute to trail maintenance;
(2) provide meaningful opportunities for volunteers and partners to carry out trail maintenance in each region of the Forest Service;
(3) address the barriers to increased volunteerism and partnerships in trail maintenance identified by volunteers, partners, and others;
(4) prioritize increased volunteerism and partnerships in trail maintenance in those regions with the most severe trail maintenance needs, and where trail maintenance backlogs are jeopardizing access to National Forest lands; and
(5) aim to increase trail maintenance by volunteers and partners by 100 percent by the date that is 5 years after November 28, 2016.
(c) Additional requirement
(d) Volunteer liability
(1) Omitted
(2) Additional requirement
(e) Consultation
(f) Volunteer and partnership coordination
(g) Report
(1) Contents
The Secretary shall prepare a report on—
(A) the effectiveness of the strategy in addressing the trail maintenance backlog;
(B) the increase in volunteerism and partnership efforts on trail maintenance as a result of the strategy;
(C) the miles of National Forest System trails maintained by volunteers and partners, and the approximate value of the volunteer and partnership efforts;
(D) the status of the stewardship credits for outfitters and guides pilot program described in section 583k–5 of this title that includes the number of participating sites, total amount of the credits offered, estimated value of trail maintenance performed, and suggestions for revising the program; and
(E) recommendations for further increasing volunteerism and partnerships in trail maintenance.
(2) Submission
Not later than 3 years after November 28, 2016, the Secretary shall submit the report required by paragraph (1) to—
(A) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
(Pub. L. 114–245, § 4, Nov. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 991.)
§ 583k–3. Priority trail maintenance program
(a) Selection
(b) Criteria
Priority areas shall include a well-defined region on National Forest System land where the lack of trail maintenance has—
(1) reduced access to public land;
(2) led to an increase, or risk of increase, in harm to natural resources;
(3) jeopardized public safety;
(4) resulted in trails being impassible by the intended managed users; or
(5) increased future deferred trail maintenance costs.
(c) Requirements
In selecting priority areas, the Secretary shall—
(1) consider any public input on priority areas received within 3 months of November 28, 2016;
(2) consider the range of trail users (including motorized and non-motorized trail users); and
(3) include at least one priority area in each region of the United States Forest Service.
(d) Increased trail maintenance
(1) In general
(2) Contents
In developing the approach under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A) consider any public input on trail maintenance priorities and needs within any priority area;
(B) consider the costs and benefits of increased trail maintenance within each priority area; and
(C) incorporate partners and volunteers in the trail maintenance.
(3) Required trail maintenance
(e) Coordination
(f) Revision
(Pub. L. 114–245, § 5, Nov. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 993.)
§ 583k–4. Cooperative agreements
(a) In general
(b) Contents
Cooperative agreements authorized under this section may—
(1) improve trail maintenance in a priority area;
(2) implement the strategy; or
(3) advance trail maintenance in a manner deemed appropriate by the Secretary.
(Pub. L. 114–245, § 6, Nov. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 994.)
§ 583k–5. Stewardship credits for outfitters and guides
(a) Pilot program
(b) Additional requirements
In establishing the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(1) select administrative units where the pilot program will improve trail maintenance; and
(2) establish appropriate terms and conditions, including meeting National Quality Standards for Trails and the Trail Management Objectives identified for the trail.
(Pub. L. 114–245, § 7, Nov. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 994.)