VOLUNTEER TRAILS ASSISTANCE

SEC. 11. [16 U.S.C. 1250] (a)(1) In addition to the cooperative agreement and other authorities contained in this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the head of any Federal agency administering Federal lands, are authorized to encourage volunteers and volunteer organizations to plan, develop, maintain, and manage, where appropriate, trails throughout the Nation.

(2) Wherever appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the Secretaries are authorized and encouraged to utilize the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969, the Volunteers in the Forests Act of 1972, and section 6 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (relating to the development of Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans).

(b) Each Secretary or the head of any Federal land managing agency may assist volunteers and volunteer organizations in planning, developing, maintaining, and managing trails. Volunteer work may include, but need not be limited to

(1) planning, developing, maintaining, or managing (A) trails which are components of the national trails system, (B) trails which, if so developed and maintained, could qualify for designation as components of the national trails system; or

(2) operating programs to organize and supervise volunteer trail building efforts with respect to the trails referred to in paragraph (1), conducting trail-related research projects, or providing education and training to volunteers on methods of trails planning, construction, and maintenance.

(c) The appropriate Secretary or the head of any Federal land managing agency may utilize and make available Federal facilities, equipment, tools, and technical assistance to volunteers and volunteer organizations, subject such limitations and restrictions as the appropriate Secretary or the head of any Federal land managing agency deems necessary or desirable.

SEC. 12. [16 U.S.C. 1251] As used in this Act:

(1) The term "high potential historic sites" means those historic sites related to the route, or sites in close proximity thereto, which provide opportunity to interpret the historic significance of the trail during the period of its major use. Criteria for consideration as high potential sites include historic significance, presence of visible historic remnants, scenic quality, and relative freedom from intrusion.

(2) The term "high potential route segments" means those segments of a trail which would afford high quality recreation experience in a portion of the route having greater than average scenic values or affording an opportunity to vicariously share the experience of the original users of a historic route.

(3) The term "State" means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

(4) The term "without expense to the United States" means that no funds may be expended by Federal agencies for the development of trail related facilities or for the acquisition of lands or interests in lands outside the exterior boundaries of Federal areas. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, amounts made available to any State or political subdivision under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 or any other provision of law shall not be treated as an expense to the United States.

B. NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAILS FUND

Symms National Recreational Trails Act of 1991 (part B of title I of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–240; Approved December 18, 1991))

PART B-NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAILS FUND ACT SEC. 1301. [16 U.S.C. 1261 note] SHORT TITLE.

This part may be cited as the "Symms National Recreational Trails Act of 1991".

SEC. 1302. [16 U.S.C. 1261] NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAILS FUNDING PROGRAM.

(a) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, using amounts available in the Fund, shall administer a program allocating moneys to the States for the purposes of providing and maintaining recreational trails.

(b) STATEMENT OF INTENT.-Moneys made available under this part are to be used on trails and trail-related projects which have been planned and developed under the otherwise existing laws, policies and administrative procedures within each State, and which are identified in, or which further a specific goal of, a trail plan included or referenced in a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan required by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act 1.

(c) STATE ELIGIBILITY.—

(1) TRANSITIONAL PROVISION.-Until the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this part, a State shall be eligible to receive moneys under this part only if such State's application proposes to use the moneys as provided in subsection (e).

(2) PERMANENT PROVISION.-On and after the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this part, a State shall be eligible to receive moneys under this part only if—

(A) a recreational trail advisory board on which both motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail users are represented exists within the State;

(B) the Governor of the State has designated the State official or officials who will be responsible for administering moneys received under this part; and

(C) the State's application proposes to use moneys received under this part as provided in subsection (e). (3) FEDERAL SHARE.

1 With regard to subsection (b), see section 6(d) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 4601-8) for the requirements for, and elements of, a "comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan".

(A) PRIOR TO FISCAL YEAR 2001.-Prior to October 1, 2000, the Federal share of the cost of a project under this section shall be 50 percent.

(B) FISCAL YEAR 2001 AND THEREAFTER. For fiscal year 2001 and each fiscal year thereafter, a State shall be eligible to receive moneys under this part for a fiscal year only if the State agrees to expend from non-Federal sources for carrying out projects under this part an amount equal to 20 percent of the amount received by the State under this part in that fiscal year.

(d) ALLOCATION OF MONEYS IN THE FUND.—

(1) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.-No more than 3 percent of the expenditures made annually from the Fund may be used to pay the cost to the Secretary for

(A) approving applications of States for moneys under this part;

(B) paying expenses of the National Recreational Trails Advisory Committee;

(C) conducting national surveys of nonhighway recreational fuel consumption by State, for use in making determinations and estimations pursuant to this part;

(D) contracting for services with other land management agencies; and

(E) if any such funds remain unexpended, research on methods to accommodate multiple trail uses and increase the compatibility of those uses, information dissemination, technical assistance, and preparation of a national trail plan as required by the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et al).

(2) ALLOCATION TO STATES.—

(A) AMOUNT.-Amounts in the Fund remaining after payment of the administrative costs described in paragraph (1), shall be allocated and paid to the States annually in the following proportions:

(i) EQUAL AMOUNTS.-50 percent of such amounts shall be allocated equally among eligible States.

(ii) AMOUNTS PROPORTIONATE TO NONHIGHWAY RECREATIONAL FUEL USE.-50 percent of such amounts shall be allocated among eligible States in proportion to the amount of nonhighway recreational fuel use during the preceding year in each such State, respectively.

(B) USE OF DATA. In determining amounts of nonhighway recreational fuel use for the purpose of subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary may consider data on offhighway vehicle registrations in each State.

(3) LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS.-The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) notwithstanding, the total of all obligations for recreational trails under this section shall not exceed(A) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1992; (B) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1993; (C) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1994; (D) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1995;

(E) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1996; and