§1241. Congressional statement of policy and declaration of purpose

(a) Considerations for determining establishment of trails

In order to provide for the ever-increasing outdoor recreation needs of an expanding population and in order to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nation, trails should be established (i) primarily, near the urban areas of the Nation, and (ii) secondarily, within scenic areas and along historic travel routes of the Nation, which are often more remotely located.

(b) Initial components

The purpose of this chapter is to provide the means for attaining these objectives by instituting a national system of recreation, scenic and historic trails, by designating the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail as the initial components of that system, and by prescribing the methods by which, and standards according to which, additional components may be added to the system.

(c) Volunteer citizen involvement

The Congress recognizes the valuable contributions that volunteers and private, nonprofit trail groups have made to the development and maintenance of the Nation's trails. In recognition of these contributions, it is further the purpose of this chapter to encourage and assist volunteer citizen involvement in the planning, development, maintenance, and management, where appropriate, of trails.

( Pub. L. 90–543, §2, Oct. 2, 1968, 82 Stat. 919 ; Pub. L. 95–625, title V, §551(1)–(3), Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3511 ; Pub. L. 98–11, title II, §202, Mar. 28, 1983, 97 Stat. 42 .)

Amendments

1983-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–11, §202(1), substituted "The" for "the" before "purpose".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–11, §202(2), added subsec. (c).

1978-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–625, §551(1), (2), inserted "the preservation of," and "and historic resources" after "promote" and "outdoor areas" and substituted "within scenic areas and along historic travel routes of the Nation, which are often more remotely located" for "within established scenic areas more remotely located".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–625, §551(3), substituted ", scenic and historic" for "and scenic".

Short Title of 1993 Amendments

Pub. L. 103–145, §1, Nov. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 1496 , provided that: "This Act [amending section 1244 of this title] may be cited as the 'El Camino Real Para Los Texas Study Act of 1993'."

Pub. L. 103–144, §1, Nov. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 1494 , provided that: "This Act [amending section 1244 of this title] may be cited as the 'El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Study Act of 1993'."

Short Title of 1990 Amendments

Pub. L. 101–365, §1, Aug. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 429 , provided that: "This Act [amending sections 1244 and 1249 of this title] may be cited as the 'Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Act'."

Pub. L. 101–321, §1, July 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 293 , provided that: "This Act [amending section 1244 of this title] may be cited as the 'Selma to Montgomery National Trail Study Act of 1989'."

Short Title of 1988 Amendments

Pub. L. 100–559, title II, §201, Oct. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 2797 , provided that: "This title [amending section 1244 of this title] may be cited as the 'Coronado National Trail Study Act of 1988'."

Pub. L. 100–470, §1, Oct. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 2281 , provided that: "This Act [amending sections 1244 and 1248 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 1248 of this title] may be cited as the 'National Trails System Improvements Act of 1988'."

Short Title of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–187, §1, Dec. 11, 1987, 101 Stat. 1287 , provided that: "This Act [amending section 1244 of this title] may be cited as the 'De Soto National Trail Study Act of 1987'."

Short Title of 1983 Amendment

Section 201 of title II of Pub. L. 98–11 provided that: "This title [enacting sections 1250 and 1251 of this title and amending this section and sections 1242 to 1247 and 1249 of this title] may be cited as the 'National Trails System Act Amendments of 1983'."

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 90–543 provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the 'National Trails System Act'."