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This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the Benton MacKaye Trail should be designated as a national scenic trail. The 287-mile hiking trail stretches across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina through major natural areas including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and several national forests. The trail, which has been maintained by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association since 1980 and passes mostly through federal land, generates economic benefits for rural communities through visitor spending on lodging and supplies. The Secretary must complete the feasibility study and submit findings to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment. The bill also highlights that the trail can be maintained cost-effectively due to its established infrastructure and location on public lands.

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