[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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