This bill establishes a formal partnership structure for managing the nation's scenic and historic trails, with a special focus on the Appalachian Trail as it approaches its centennial in 2025. The legislation designates the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as the lead operational partner for the Appalachian Trail and allows the federal government to designate other nonprofit organizations as operational partners for other national trails. These designated partners would enter into cooperative agreements with the Interior and Agriculture departments, sharing responsibility for trail maintenance, volunteer coordination, land acquisition, and resource protection while federal agencies retain administrative authority. The bill authorizes the federal government to provide financial assistance to these partners, transfer surplus equipment to them, and give them a formal role in prioritizing land purchases for trail expansion. It also requires federal agencies to assess visitor use and economic impacts of trails on nearby communities every five years and to develop strategies for expanding and improving trail facilities. The legislation authorizes unspecified appropriations through fiscal year 2030 to fund these planning activities and trail development projects.
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