Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Act of 2023”.
Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Act of 2023
A BILL
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress finds that the Benton MacKaye Trail—
is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses approximately 287 miles over some of the most renowned forests and mountains in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina;
showcases a wide variety of scenic views, including high elevation peaks, mature forests, and secluded waterfalls, and passes through wilderness rich with biodiversity;
passes through six designated Wilderness Areas, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Chattahoochee, Cherokee, and Nantahala National Forests;
provides a wide array of easily accessible hikes for novice and intermediate hikers, as well as more challenging trails for backpacking;
supports economic opportunities for numerous rural communities that benefit from the trail’s visitors spending their money on accommodations, food, and outdoor supplies;
runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia, through Tennessee, and extends through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina; and
is physically accessible and can be maintained at a minimal cost because—
the Benton MacKaye Trail has been maintained at its current length since 2005;
95 percent of the Benton MacKaye Trail is located on Federal land; and
the Benton MacKaye Trail has been successfully constructed, maintained, and managed by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association since 1980.
Sec. 3 Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail
Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(32) Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail
“(A) In general—The Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail, a trail extending approximately 287 miles across the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, as generally depicted on the map entitled “Benton MacKaye Trail Overview Map”, dated January 6, 2022.
“(B) Availability of map—The map described in subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service and the National Park Service.
“(C) Authorized uses
“(i) Existing uses—Existing non-motorized recreational activities, where authorized on the day before the date of the enactment of the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Act of 2023, including equestrian, non-motorized bicycling, and special uses, are authorized on the trail.
“(ii) Required comprehensive plan—The comprehensive plan required under subsection (e) shall address authorized uses and management of the recreational, scenic, and other values for which the trail is established.
“(D) Administration—The Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, in consultation with—
“(i) other Federal agencies;
“(ii) State, Tribal, regional, and local agencies; and
“(iii) nonprofit organizations and other mutually beneficial cooperators.”