117 HR 2512 RH: Chisholm National Historic Trail and Western National Historic Trail Designation Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2022-11-16
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Union Calendar No. 410
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2512
[Report No. 117–569]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 14, 2021
Mr. Estes (for himself, Mr. Mann, Mr. LaTurner, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Lucas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
November 16, 2022
Additional sponsor: Ms. Davids of Kansas
November 16, 2022
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
A BILL
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Chisholm National Historic Trail and the Western National Historic Trail, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Chisholm National Historic Trail and Western National Historic Trail Designation Act”.
2.

Designation of the Chisholm National Historic Trail and the Western 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:
“(_)

Chisholm National Historic Trail; Western National Historic Trail
(A)

Establishment
(i)

Chisholm National Historic Trail
The Chisholm National Historic Trail, a trail most heavily used by ranchers and drovers to move cattle to market between 1867 and 1884, extending along a route of approximately 1,378 miles from Kingsville, Texas, through Cuero and San Antonio, Texas, northward through Oklahoma to Abilene, Kansas, as generally depicted on the maps numbered 1 through 6 contained in the report prepared by the National Park Service entitled “Chisholm and Great Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment” and dated May 2019.
(ii)

Western National Historic Trail
The Western National Historic Trail, a trail most heavily used by ranchers and drovers to move cattle to market between 1874 and 1897, extending along a route of approximately 1,350 miles from Kingsville, Texas, northward through Oklahoma and Dodge City, Kansas, to Ogallala, Nebraska, as generally depicted on the maps numbered 1 through 6 contained in the report prepared by the National Park Service entitled “Chisholm and Great Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment” and dated May 2019.
(B)

Availability of map
The maps described in subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Department of the Interior.
(C)

Administration
(i)

In general
The Secretary of the Interior shall administer the trails established by subparagraph (A) as a single administrative unit.
(ii)

Administration of portions of trail on non-Federal land
(I)

Requirements for administration
The Secretary of the Interior shall administer any portion of a trail established by subparagraph (A) that is located on non-Federal land only—
- (aa)
with the voluntary consent of the owner of the non-Federal land; and
- (bb)
if the portion qualifies for certification as a component of the applicable trail, consistent with section 3(a)(3).
(II)

Certification agreement
- (aa)

In general
The approval by an owner of applicable non-Federal land of a certification agreement shall satisfy the consent requirements of subclause (I)(aa).
- (bb)

Termination
A certification agreement referred to in item (aa) may be terminated at any time.
(iii)

Access to private property
The establishment of a trail by subparagraph (A) does not authorize any person to enter private property without the consent of the owner of the private property.
(iv)

Recognition of alternative names for trails
In referring to a trail established by subparagraph (A) in maps and other documents, the Secretary of the Interior may acknowledge and use any alternative name that was historically used to reference the trail, including the “Great Western Trail”.
(D)

Land acquisition
(i)

Donation
The Secretary of the Interior may accept a donation of land or an interest in land for a trail established by subparagraph (A).
(ii)

Limitation
The Secretary of the Interior may not acquire for a trail established by subparagraph (A) any land or interest in land—
(I)
that is located outside the exterior boundary of any federally managed area without the consent of the owner of the land or interest in land; or
(II)
that extends more than an average of 1/4 of a mile on either side of a trail established by subparagraph (A).
(E)

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 a trail established by subparagraph (A) prohibits, hinders, or disrupts the development, production, or transmission of energy.
(F)

No buffer zones
(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 a trail established by subparagraph (A) creates a buffer zone.
(ii)

Outside activities
The fact that an activity or use on land outside a trail established by subparagraph (A) can be seen, heard, or detected from the applicable trail, including from any land or interest in land acquired for the applicable trail, shall not preclude, limit, control, regulate, or determine the conduct or management of the activity or use outside the applicable trail.
(G)

No eminent domain or condemnation
Land or an interest in land may not be acquired for a trail established by subparagraph (A) by eminent domain or condemnation.
(H)

Inventory of sites; administrative costs
The Secretary of the Interior shall be responsible for—
(i)
the costs of any inventory to identify and define potential sites and segments for inclusion in a trail established by subparagraph (A); and
(ii)
any other applicable administrative costs relating to a trail established by that subparagraph.
(I)

Not a designation of “lands in the national park system”
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the establishment of a trail by subparagraph (A) shall not have the effect of designating the trail or any land on which the trail is located as “lands in the National Park System” for purposes of section 28(b)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185(b)(1)).
(J)

No new authorities or permits
(i)

No effect on authority to grant easements or rights-of-way
(I)

In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the establishment of a trail by subparagraph (A) shall not alter or affect the existing authority of any Federal, State, or local agency or official to grant easements or rights-of-way over, under, across, or along any portion of the trail.
(II)

Authority of heads of Federal agencies to grants easements or rights-of-way
Notwithstanding the establishment of a trail by subparagraph (A), the head of any Federal agency having jurisdiction over any Federal land on which the trail is located (other than land that is considered to be “lands in the National Park System” for purposes of section 28(b)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185(b)(1)) as a result of an establishment under any other law), shall have the authority to grant easements or rights-of-way over, under, across, or along any applicable portion of the trail in accordance with the laws applicable to the Federal land.
(ii)

No new permits required
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the establishment of a trail by subparagraph (A) shall not subject the trail or any land on which the trail is located to any other Federal laws (including regulations) requiring a Federal permit or authorization that would otherwise be made applicable as a result of the establishment of the trail as a component of the National Trails System.”.
November 16, 2022
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed