April 10, 2025
Mr. Neguse (for himself and Ms. Leger Fernandez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to prioritize the completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(2) Trail
The term Trail means the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
(3) Trail Completion Team
The term Trail Completion Team
means the joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Trail completion team established under section 4(a).
Sec. 3. Completion of Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall seek to complete the Trail as a continuous route not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 4. Trail Completion Team
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Trail completion team to work in coordination with the administrator of the Trail—
(1)
to facilitate the completion and optimization of the Trail, consistent with the purposes of the Trail; and
(2)
to assist in the development of the comprehensive development plan for the Trail under section 5.
(b) Consultation
As appropriate, the Trail Completion Team shall consult with other Federal agencies, affected State, Tribal, and local governments, landowners, affected land-grant mercedes owners and users, acequias, and other interested parties in—
(1)
the completion and optimization of the Trail; and
(2)
the development and completion of the comprehensive development plan for the Trail under section 5.
Sec. 5. Comprehensive development plan for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
(a) In general
Not later than 3 years after the date of establishment of the Trail Completion Team under section 4(a), the Secretary shall complete a comprehensive development plan for the Trail.
(b) Plan inclusions
The comprehensive development plan under subsection (a) shall—
(1)
identify any gaps in the Trail for which the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior have not been able to acquire land;
(2)
identify opportunities for the use of easements acquired from willing sellers to facilitate completion of the Trail; and
(3)
include general and site-specific Trail development plans, including anticipated costs of the plans.
Sec. 6. Partnerships
The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall seek to enter into agreements with volunteer and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate, to facilitate the completion and administration of the Trail.
Sec. 7. Effect
Nothing in this Act—
(1)
provides any authority to acquire land or interests in land for inclusion in the Trail beyond the authorities provided for the Trail in the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.), including acquisition by eminent domain; or
(2)
makes the acquisition of land or interests in land for the Trail a priority over other land acquisition authorizations.