[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Kyl):
  S. 153. A bill to amend the National Trails System Act to designate 
the Arizona National Scenic Trail; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined today by Senator 
Kyl in introducing the Arizona Trail Feasibility National Scenic Trail 
Act. This bill would designate the Arizona Trail as a National Scenic 
Trail.
  The Arizona Trail is a beautifully diverse stretch of public lands, 
mountains, canyons, deserts, forests, historic sites, and communities. 
The Trail is approximately 807 miles long and begins at the Coronado 
National Memorial on the U.S.-Mexico border and ends in the Bureau of 
Land Management's Arizona Strip District on the Utah border near the 
Grand Canyon. In between these two points, the Trail winds through some 
of the most rugged, spectacular scenery in the Western United States. 
The corridor for the Arizona Trail encompasses the wide range of 
ecological diversity in the state, and incorporates a host of existing 
trails into one continuous trail. In fact, the Trail route is so 
topographically diverse that a person can hike from the Sonoran Desert 
to Alpine forests in one day.
  For over a decade, more than 16 Federal, State, and local agencies, 
as well as community and business organizations, have partnered to 
create, develop, and manage the Arizona Trail. Through their combined 
efforts, these agencies and the members of the Arizona Trail 
Association have completed over 90 percent of the longest contiguous 
land-based trail in the State of Arizona. Designating the Arizona Trail 
as a National Scenic Trail would help streamline the management of the 
high-use trail to ensure that this pristine stretch of diverse land is 
preserved for future generations to enjoy.
  Since 1968, when the National Trails System Act was established, 
Congress has designated over 20 national trails. Before a trail 
receives a national designation, a federal study is typically required 
to assess the feasibility of establishing a trail route. The Arizona 
Trail doesn't require a feasibility study because it's virtually 
complete with less than 60 miles left to build and sign. All but 1-
percent of the trail resides on public land, and the unfinished 
segments don't involve private property. The trail meets the criteria 
to be labeled a National Scenic Trail and already appears on all 
Arizona state maps. Therefore, the Congress has reason to forego an 
unnecessary and costly feasibility study and proceed straight to 
National Scenic Trail designation.
  The Arizona Trail is known throughout the State as boon to outdoor 
enthusiasts. The Arizona State Parks recently released data showing 
that two-thirds of Arizonans consider themselves trail users. Millions 
of visitors also use Arizona's trails each year. In one of the fastest-
growing states in the United States, the designation of the Arizona 
Trail as a National Scenic Trail would ensure the preservation of a 
corridor of open space for hikers, mountain bicyclists, cross country 
skiers, snowshoers, eco-tourists, equestrians, and joggers.
  I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this legislation.
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