The "Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act" aims to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail within 10 years through enhanced coordination, planning, and partnerships, without granting new land acquisition authority.
Joe Neguse
Representative
CO-2
The "Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act" aims to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a continuous route within 10 years through enhanced coordination and planning. It establishes a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management team to develop a comprehensive plan, identify trail gaps, and explore easements. The act also encourages partnerships with volunteer and nonprofit organizations to aid in trail completion and management, while clarifying that it does not grant new land acquisition authorities or prioritize trail land acquisition over other authorizations.
Bill Sets 10-Year Deadline to Complete Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, Creates Joint Agency Team
This legislation, the 'Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act,' lays out a plan to finally finish the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). The core goal is straightforward: get the trail fully connected as a continuous route from Mexico to Canada within ten years of the Act becoming effective, provided the necessary funding is available (Sec. 3). It directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to make this happen.
Bridging the Gaps: The Plan and the Team
To manage this, the bill mandates the creation of a joint Trail Completion Team within one year, pulling staff from the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (Sec. 4). Think of this team as the project managers tasked with coordinating everything needed to link up the missing pieces of the trail. Their job involves working closely with the existing Trail administrator, other government agencies (federal, state, tribal, local), landowners, and community groups.
Within three years of forming this team, a comprehensive development plan must be completed (Sec. 5). This isn't just a vague outline; the plan needs to pinpoint specific gaps where the trail isn't continuous, especially where acquiring land has been tricky. It also requires exploring the use of 'easements' – essentially, legal agreements allowing the trail to cross private land with the owner's permission and compensation – from willing sellers. Finally, the plan must detail development specifics and estimate the costs involved.
Boots on the Ground: Partnerships and Property Rights
The Act emphasizes collaboration, directing federal agencies to team up with volunteer groups and nonprofit organizations (Sec. 6). These partnerships are envisioned to help with both completing the trail and its ongoing management – think trail building, maintenance, and signage, tapping into the passion and resources of existing trail advocacy groups.
Crucially, the bill includes a specific section clarifying its scope regarding land acquisition (Sec. 7). It explicitly states that this Act does not grant any new powers to acquire land beyond what's already allowed under the National Trails System Act. This includes limitations on using eminent domain (the government power to take private property for public use, with compensation). It also clarifies that completing the CDT isn't prioritized over other authorized land acquisitions. Essentially, the agencies must work within existing legal frameworks to acquire the land or rights-of-way needed to finish the trail.