16 U.S.C. 1250 – Volunteer trails assistance

§ 1250

TITLE 16—CONSERVATION

‘‘(B) the estimated amount of land remaining to be
acquired; and
‘‘(C) the amount of land planned for acquisition in
the ensuing fiscal year and the estimated cost thereof.’’
1994—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–437 in introductory
provisions substituted ‘‘Natural Resources’’ for ‘‘Interior and Insular Affairs’’ after ‘‘Committee on’’.
1990—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 101–365 amended first sentence generally. Prior to amendment, first sentence
read as follows: ‘‘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 chapter relating to the trails designated by paragraphs (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (15), and
(16) of section 1244(a) of this title.’’
1987—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 100–192 substituted ‘‘, (10),
(11), (12), (13), (15), and (16)’’ for ‘‘through (13) and (15)’’.
Pub. L. 100–35 inserted ‘‘and (15)’’ after ‘‘(13)’’.
1983—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–11, § 209(1), (2), inserted
‘‘(a)(1)’’ before ‘‘There are hereby authorized to be appropriated’’ at beginning of undesignated opening paragraph, and substituted ‘‘for the’’ for ‘‘(a) The’’ before
‘‘Appalachian National Scenic Trail’’ at beginning of
former subsec. (a).
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98–11, § 209(3), (4), inserted ‘‘(2)’’
before sentence beginning ‘‘It is the express intent of
the Congress’’ and substituted ‘‘protection of the Appalachian Trail’’ for ‘‘protection of the Trail’’.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–11, § 209(5), designated existing
provisions as par. (1), inserted provision 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 1246(c) of this
title, and added par. (2).
1980—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–370 substituted ‘‘(7), (8),
(9), and (10)’’ for ‘‘(7), and (8)’’ and inserted reference to
the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
Pub. L. 96–199 inserted references to the North Country National Scenic Trail in two places, once by its full
name and once by the designation as the trail ‘‘designated by’’ section 1244(a)(8) of this title, substituted
‘‘appropriated prior to October 1, 1978’’ for ‘‘appropriated prior to October 1, 1979’’, and substituted ‘‘no
funds may be expended by Federal agencies for the acquisition of lands or interests in lands outside the exterior boundaries of existing Federal area’’ for ‘‘no funds
may be expended for the acquisition of lands or interests in lands’’.
1978—Pub. L. 95–248 inserted provisions relating to determinations respecting appropriations authorized for
fiscal year 1979 and succeeding fiscal years.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–625 struck out par. (1) designation, substituted ‘‘in subsequent fiscal years’’ for ‘‘in
the subsequent fiscal year’’ and struck out par. (2)
which provided for transmission of a report to Congressional committees by the Appalachian Trail Conference
at the close of each fiscal year, until entire acquisition
program was completed, covering conduct of negotiations for acquisition program and whether larger interests in land were being acquired than were necessary
for the purposes of this chapter.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–625 added subsec. (c).
EFFECTIVE DATE OF APPROPRIATION AUTHORIZATIONS
UNDER PUB. L. 98–11; CONTRACT AUTHORITY
Pub. L. 98–11, title I, § 101, Mar. 28, 1983, 97 Stat. 42,
provided that: ‘‘Authorizations of appropriations under
this Act [enacting sections 1250 and 1251 of this title,
amending this section and sections 1241 to 1247 of this
title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under
section 1241 of this title] 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 payments, under this Act shall be effective only

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to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in
advance in appropriation Acts.’’
APPROPRIATIONS FOR OVERMOUNTAIN VICTORY NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL AND ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL; EFFECTIVE DATE; CONTRACT AUTHORITY
Pub. L. 96–370, § 2, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1360, provided
that: ‘‘Authorizations of moneys to be appropriated
under this Act [amending sections 1244 and 1249 of this
title] shall be effective on October 1, 1981. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, authority to
enter into contracts, to incur obligations, or to make
payments under this Act shall be effective only to the
extent, and in such amounts, as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts.’’

§ 1250. Volunteer trails assistance
(a) Volunteer planning, development, maintenance, and management of trails
(1) In addition to the cooperative agreement
and other authorities contained in this chapter,
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 chapter, the Secretaries are authorized and encouraged to utilize section 102301
of title 54, the Volunteers in the Forests Act of
1972 [16 U.S.C. 558a et seq.], and 200305 1 of title 54
(relating to the development of Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans).
(b) Scope of volunteer work
Each Secretary or the head of any Federal
land managing agency may assist volunteers
and volunteer organizations in planning, 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 designation 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 providing education and training to volunteers on methods of trails planning, construction, and maintenance.
(c) Use of Federal facilities, equipment, tools,
and technical assistance
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
volunteer organizations, subject to such limitations and restrictions as the appropriate Secretary or the head of any Federal land managing
agency deems necessary or desirable.
(Pub. L. 90–543, § 11, as added Pub. L. 98–11, title
II, § 210, Mar. 28, 1983, 97 Stat. 49; amended Pub.
L. 113–287, § 5(d)(27), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3267.)
1 So

in original. Probably should be preceded by ‘‘section’’.

Page 1537
REFERENCES IN TEXT

The Volunteers in the Forests Act of 1972, referred to
in subsec. (a)(2), probably means the Volunteers in the
National Forests Act of 1972, Pub. L. 92–300, May 18,
1972, 86 Stat. 147, as amended, which is classified generally to section 558a et seq. of this title. For complete
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title
note set out under section 558a of this title and Tables.

§ 1261. Repealed. Pub. L. 105–178, title I, § 1112(c),
June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 151
Section, Pub. L. 102–240, title I, § 1302, Dec. 18, 1991, 105
Stat. 2064; Pub. L. 104–59, title III, § 337(a)–(d), Nov. 28,
1995, 109 Stat. 602, 603; Pub. L. 104–88, title IV, § 405(a)(5),
Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 957, related to national recreational trails funding program.
SHORT TITLE

AMENDMENTS
2014—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 113–287 substituted ‘‘section 102301 of title 54’’ for ‘‘the Volunteers in the Parks
Act of 1969’’ and ‘‘200305 of title 54’’ for ‘‘section 460l–8
of this title’’.

§ 1251. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) The term ‘‘high potential historic sites’’
means those historic sites related to the route,
or sites in close proximity thereto, which provide opportunity to interpret the historic significance 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
quality, 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 average 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 Islands, 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 chapter 2003 of title 54 or any other provision of law shall not be treated as an expense
to the United States.
(Pub. L. 90–543, § 12, as added Pub. L. 98–11, title
II, § 210, Mar. 28, 1983, 97 Stat. 50; amended Pub.
L. 113–287, § 5(d)(28), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3267.)
AMENDMENTS
2014—Par. (4). Pub. L. 113–287 substituted ‘‘chapter
2003 of title 54’’ for ‘‘the Land and Water Conservation
Fund Act of 1965’’.
TERMINATION OF TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC
ISLANDS
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title
48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

CHAPTER 27A—NATIONAL RECREATIONAL
TRAILS FUND
Sec.

1261.
1262.

§ 1262

TITLE 16—CONSERVATION

Repealed.
National Recreational Trails Advisory Committee.

Pub. L. 102–240, title I, § 1301, Dec. 18, 1991, 105 Stat.
2064, provided that: ‘‘This part [part B (§§ 1301–1303) of
title I of Pub. L. 102–240, enacting this chapter] may be
cited as the ‘Symms National Recreational Trails Act
of 1991’.’’

§ 1262. National Recreational Trails Advisory
Committee
(a) Establishment
There is established the National Recreational
Trails Advisory Committee.
(b) Members
There shall be 12 members of the advisory
committee, consisting of—
(1) 8 members appointed by the Secretary
from nominations submitted by recreational
trail user organizations, one each representing
the following recreational trail uses:
(A) hiking,
(B) cross-country skiing,
(C) off-highway motorcycling,
(D) snowmobiling,
(E) horseback riding,
(F) all-terrain vehicle riding,
(G) bicycling, and
(H) four-wheel driving;
(2) 1 member appointed by the Secretary representing individuals with disabilities;
(3) an appropriate official of government
with a background in science or natural resources management, including any official of
State or local government, designated by the
Secretary;
(4) 1 member appointed by the Secretary
from nominations submitted by water trail
user organizations; and
(5) 1 member appointed by the Secretary
from nominations submitted by hunting and
fishing enthusiast organizations.
(c) Chairman
The Chair of the advisory committee shall be
the government official referenced in subsection
(b)(3), who shall serve as a non-voting member.
(d) Support for committee action
Any action, recommendation, or policy of the
advisory committee must be supported by at
least five of the members appointed under subsection (b)(1).
(e) Terms
Members of the advisory committee appointed
by the Secretary shall be appointed for terms of
three years, except that the members filling five
of the eleven positions shall be initially appointed for terms of two years, with subsequent
appointments to those positions extending for
terms of three years.
(f) Duties
The advisory committee shall meet at least
twice annually to—