An Act To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail, and for other purposes.

Jan. 5, 2023

[S. 3519]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Designation Act.

SECTION 1.

16 USC 1241 note.

SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Designation Act”.

SEC. 2.

State listing.

DESIGNATION OF THE BUTTERFIELD OVERLAND NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:“(31) Butterfield overland national historic trail.—“(A) In general.—The Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail, a trail of approximately 3,292 miles following the route operated by the Butterfield Overland Mail Company, known as the ‘Ox-Bow Route’, to transport mail and passengers between the eastern termini of St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, and extending westward through the States of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, to the western terminus of San Francisco, California, as generally depicted on the maps numbered 1 through 15, entitled ‘Study Route Maps’, and contained in the report prepared by the National Park Service entitled ‘Butterfield Overland Trail National Historical Trail Special Resource Study’ and dated May 2018. “(B)

Public information.

Maps.—The maps described in subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service. “(C) Administration.—The trail established by subparagraph (A) shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior. “(D) Land acquisition.—The United States shall not acquire for the trail established by subparagraph (A) any land or interest in land outside of the exterior boundary of any federally administered area without the consent of the owner of the land or interest in land. “(E) No buffer zone created.—“(i) In general.—Nothing in this paragraph, the acquisition of land or an interest in land authorized by this paragraph, or any management plan for the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail creates 136 STAT. 6197 a buffer zone outside of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail. “(ii) Outside activities.—The fact that an activity or use on land outside the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail can be seen, heard, or detected from land or an interest in land acquired for the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail shall not preclude, limit, control, regulate, or determine the conduct or management of the activity or use. “(F) Effect on energy development, production, or transmission.—Nothing in this paragraph, the acquisition of land or an interest in land authorized by this paragraph, or any management plan for the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail shall prohibit, hinder, or disrupt the development, production, or transmission of energy. “(G) No eminent domain or condemnation.—In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior may not use eminent domain or condemnation.” .

Approved January 5, 2023.