[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3683 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3683
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Benton MacKaye
National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 25, 2023
Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Edwards, Mr. DesJarlais,
Mrs. McBath, and Mr. David Scott of Georgia) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Benton MacKaye
National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail
Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that the Benton MacKaye Trail--
(1) is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses
approximately 287 miles over some of the most renowned forests
and mountains in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North
Carolina;
(2) showcases a wide variety of scenic views, including
high elevation peaks, mature forests, and secluded waterfalls,
and passes through wilderness rich with biodiversity;
(3) passes through six designated Wilderness Areas, the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Chattahoochee,
Cherokee, and Nantahala National Forests;
(4) provides a wide array of easily accessible hikes for
novice and intermediate hikers, as well as more challenging
trails for backpacking;
(5) supports economic opportunities for numerous rural
communities that benefit from the trail's visitors spending
their money on accommodations, food, and outdoor supplies;
(6) runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia, through
Tennessee, and extends through the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park in North Carolina; and
(7) is physically accessible and can be maintained at a
minimal cost because--
(A) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been maintained at
its current length since 2005;
(B) 95 percent of the Benton MacKaye Trail is
located on Federal land; and
(C) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been successfully
constructed, maintained, and managed by the Benton
MacKaye Trail Association since 1980.
SEC. 3. BENTON MACKAYE NATIONAL SCENIC 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:
``(32) Benton mackaye national scenic trail.--
``(A) In general.--The Benton MacKaye National
Scenic Trail, a trail extending approximately 287 miles
across the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North
Carolina, as generally depicted on the map entitled
`Benton MacKaye Trail Overview Map', dated January 6,
2022.
``(B) Availability of map.--The map described in
subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the
Forest Service and the National Park Service.
``(C) Authorized uses.--
``(i) Existing uses.--Existing non-
motorized recreational activities, where
authorized on the day before the date of the
enactment of the Benton MacKaye National Scenic
Trail Act of 2023, including equestrian, non-
motorized bicycling, and special uses, are
authorized on the trail.
``(ii) Required comprehensive plan.--The
comprehensive plan required under subsection
(e) shall address authorized uses and
management of the recreational, scenic, and
other values for which the trail is
established.
``(D) Administration.--The Benton MacKaye National
Scenic Trail shall be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service, in consultation with--
``(i) other Federal agencies;
``(ii) State, Tribal, regional, and local
agencies; and
``(iii) nonprofit organizations and other
mutually beneficial cooperators.''.
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