[Senate Report 107-263]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 580
107th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 107-263
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METACOMET-MONADNOCK-MATTABESETT TRAIL STUDY ACT OF 2001
_______
September 9, 2002.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bingaman, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1814]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the Act (H.R. 1814) to amend the National Trails
System Act to designate the Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett
Trail extending through western Massachusetts and central
Connecticut for study for potential addition to the Natural
Trails System, having considered the same, reports favorably
thereon without amendment and recommends that the Act do pass.
Purpose
The purpose of H.R. 1814 is to amend the National Trails
System Act to study the Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail,
a system of trails and potential trails extending southward
approximately 180 miles through western Massachusetts and
central Connecticut, for potential addition to the National
Trails System
Background and Need
H.R. 1814 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to study
the feasibility of designating existing and proposed segments
of a 250-mile trail in New England as part of the National
Trails System.
The proposed ``Metacomet-Monadnock-Sunapee-Mattabesett
Trail'' would connect existing portions of the Blue-Blazed
Hiking Trail, and would travel in a north-south direction
through western New Hampshire, western Massachusetts, and
central Connecticut. The trail would stretch from a location
near Mount Cube in Grafton County, New Hampshire, to Long
Island Sound east of New Haven, Connecticut. The proposed trail
would largely follow existing trails, uniting the Monadnock-
Sunapee-Greenway Trail in New Hampshire, with the Metacomet-
Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the
Mattabesett Trail in Connecticut. Several additional trail
segments would need to be developed to complete the various
components, the longest being in New Hampshire connecting the
Appalachian Trail to the top of Mount Sunapee, and in
Connecticut linking the Mattabesett Trail to Long Island Sound.
At this time, only 25 percent of the land underlying the
proposed trail is publicly owned, while the remaining lands are
privately owned. Current arrangements with landowners allow the
trail to cross private land. If the trail is designated part of
the National Trail System, the National Park Service would need
to secure new agreements to continue public access across these
lands.
The proposed trail would provide hiking and recreational
opportunities within a heavily populated region. Secretary
Norton designated two sections of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail
as a national recreation trail in recognition of the
outstanding scenic features, geological formations, and natural
and cultural resources located along the trail.
Legislative History
H.R. 1814 was introduced by Representative Olver on May 10,
2001. The House of Representatives passed the bill by a voice
vote on October 23, 2001. A companion measure, S. 1609, was
introduced by Senators Kerry, Kennedy, Lieberman, and Dodd on
November 1, 2001. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a
hearing on H.R. 1814 and S. 1609 on June 20, 2002. At the
business meeting on July 31, 2002, the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources ordered H.R. 1814 favorably reported.
Committee Recommendation
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on July 31, 2002, by a voice vote of a quorum
present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 1814.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1 designates the bill's title as ``Metacomet-
Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail Study Act of 2001.''
Section 2 designates the Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett
Trail for study for potential addition to the National Trails
System.
Section 3 directs the Secretary of the Interior to submit
the study to Congress not later than 2 years after enactment of
the legislation, notwithstanding the 3-year time frame set
forth in section 5(b) of the National Trails System Act.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The following estimate of the cost of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, August 8, 2002.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1814, the
Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail Study Act of 2001.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact for this
estimate is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 1814--Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail Study Act of 2001
H.R. 1814 would amend the National Trails System Act to add
a network of trails in the northeastern United States to the
list of routes to be studied for possible inclusion in the
National Trails System. The Secretary of the Interior would
have two years to conduct a study of the 180-mile Metacomet-
Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail system in Massachusetts and
Connecticut.
Based on information provided by the National Park Service
and assuming appropriation of the necessary amount, CBO
estimates that it would cost the federal government $270,000
over the next two years to conduct the required study and
report to the Congress on its findings. H.R. 1814 would not
affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures would not apply. The legislation contains no
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on
state, local, or tribal governments.
On September 21, 2001, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for
H.R. 1814 as ordered reported by the House Committee on
Resources on September 12, 2001. The two versions of the
legislation are identical, as are the cost estimates.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Regulatory Impact Evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out H.R. 1814. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of H.R. 1814, as ordered reported.
Executive Communications
The pertinent legislative report received by the Committee
from the Department of the Interior setting forth Executive
agency recommendations relating to H.R. 1814 is set forth
below:
U.S. Department of the Interior,
Office of the Secretary,
Washington, DC, July 25, 2002.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter sets forth the views of the
Department of the Interior on S. 1609 and H.R. 1814, Metacomet-
Monadnock-Matabesett Trail Study Act of 2001.
The Department supports this study, with a technical
amendment noted at the end of this letter. However, we did not
request additional funding for this study in fiscal year 2003.
We believe that any funding requested should be directed
towards completing previously authorized studies. There are 34
studies pending currently, of which we hope to transmit at
least four to Congress by the end of 2002. To meet the
President's Initiative to eliminate the deferred maintenance
backlog, we must continue to focus our resources on caring for
existing areas in the National Park System. We caution that our
support of this legislation authorizing a study does not
necessarily mean that the Department will support designations
of these segments as additions to the National Trails System.
The purpose of both bills is to conduct a study to
determine the suitability for inclusion in the National Trails
System of this 180-mile extended trail, which could eventually
connect the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in Western Massachusetts
with Long Island Sound in Connecticut. The Trail would largely
follow existing trails linking the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in
Massachusetts and Connecticut, to the Mattabesett Trail in
Connecticut. New trail sections would need to be developed in
Connecticut linking the Mattabesett Trail to Long Island Sound.
Other shorter gaps would also be filed. The great majority of
this trail is located on private land. Outside of sections of
trail on state lands, the trail currently is permitted to cross
private land through a variety of agreements with the
landowners. As part of this study, these agreements should be
examined to ensure that the National Park Service works
cooperatively with private landowners in an effort to continue
public access across these private lands if the trail is
designated.
Although the region was heavily traveled by Native
Americans, for whom the trails have been named, it is not an
historic route. Each section was conceived and built by local
trail enthusiasts and much of the work was initiated in the
late 1950's. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association has
been the primary steward of the Mattabesett Trail and the
Connecticut portion of the Metacomet Trail. The Appalachian
Mountain Club, through its Berkshire Chapter, has picked up the
responsibility for the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in
Massachusetts. Organized volunteers provide the management and
maintenance for each trail segment. If the trail was designated as part
of the National Trails System, then existing trail clubs would be given
the opportunity to assume a leadership role in working with landowners
and communities to address any concerns they may have.
The existing sections of this proposed trail have similar
scenic and recreational characteristics to the segments of the
Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Massachusetts and
Connecticut. The trails provide for a rare opportunity for
multi-day, overnight hiking trips in highly populated
Connecticut and Massachusetts. In Connecticut and
Massachusetts, the state governments and well-established
trails organizations have made substantial commitments to the
existing trail sections. Our experience with other national
scenic and historic trails shows that trail clubs can and
should assume a leadership role in working with landowners and
communities, addressing their concerns to make their trails
successful. The opportunity for good partnering exists in both
states and is worthy of further exploration.
In June 2001, Secretary Gale Norton designated two sections
of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail as a national recreation
trail, recognizing the outstanding scenic features, geological
formations, and natural and cultural resources along the route.
There are well over 800 national recreation trails in the
National Trails System. The designation as a national trail
proposed in S. 1609 and H.R. 1814 would, if successful, provide
more extensive Federal involvement, through the authorities of
the National Trails System Act for this chain of trails.
The National Park Service supports this proposed study, as
the existing trail segments possess many of the characteristics
required of a national scenic trail. Only through further
investigation will it be possible to determine if it is
feasible and suitable for inclusion in the National Trails
System. Furthermore, in order to better plan for the future of
our national parks, we believe that any such studies should
carefully examine the full life cycle operation and maintenance
costs that would result from each alternative considered.
If this legislation is enacted and funds are available, the
National Park Service would launch a study of the existing and
proposed trails segments to evaluate the support for the trail,
the impacts of federal involvement on the communities and
private property it passes through, and the resources that
would be opened for public use. The study would take
approximately three years to complete and would, at a minimum,
follow the requirements listed in section 5(b) of the National
Trails System Act. Through this process, the National Park
Service looks forward to working with and hearing the valuable
input of the hundreds of communities that these trails cross in
Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The long title of S. 1609 refers to conducting a study on
the feasibility of designating the Metacomet-Monadnock-
Mattabesett Trail as a national historic trail. We would like
to clarify that this trail has the potential to be a national
scenic trail, instead of a national historic trail, and
recommend amending the long title accordingly.
The Office of Management and Budget advises that there is
no objection to the presentation of this report from the
standpoint of the Administration's program.
Sincerely,
Craig Manson,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the Act H.R. 1814, as ordered reported, are shown as follows
(existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black
brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in
which no change is proposed is shown in roman):
A. NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT
(Public Law 90-543; Approved October 2, 1968)
AN ACT To establish a national trails system, and for other purposes
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SHORT TITLE
Section 1. This Act may be cited as the ``National Trails
System Act''.
* * * * * * *
NATIONAL SCENIC AND NATIONAL HISTORICAL TRAILS
Sec. 5. (a) National scenic and national historic trails
shall be authorized and designated only by Act of Congress.
There are hereby established the following National Scenic and
National Historic Trails:
* * * * * * *
(c) The following routes shall be studied in accordance
with the objectives outlined in subsection (b) of this section:
* * * * * * *
(39) * * *
(______ ) Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail.--The
Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail, a system of trails and
potential trails extending southward approximately 180 miles
through western Massachusetts on the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail,
across central Connecticut on the Metacomet Trail and the
Mattabesett Trail, and ending at Long Island Sound.
* * * * * * *