§1250 — Title 16 Conservation | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and other federal land managers can recruit and help volunteers and volunteer groups to plan, build, care for, and manage trails across the country. They may also use other laws when it helps, including section 102301 of title 54, the Volunteers in the Forests Act of 1972, and section 200305 of title 54. Volunteers can work on trails that are part of the national trails system or that could become part of it. Work can include planning, building, fixing, running volunteer programs, doing trail research, and teaching trail skills. Federal agencies may provide facilities, tools, equipment, and technical help as they find appropriate.

Title 16, §1250

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)In addition to the cooperative agreement and other authorities contained in this chapter, 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 chapter, the Secretaries are authorized and encouraged to utilize section 102301 of title 54, the Volunteers in the Forests Act of 1972 11 See References in Text note below. [16 U.S.C. 558a et seq.], and 200305 22 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “section”. of title 54 (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, or (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 to such limitations and restrictions as the appropriate Secretary or the head of any Federal land managing agency deems necessary or desirable.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Volunteers in the Forests Act of 1972, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), probably means the Volunteers in the National Forests Act of 1972, Pub. L. 92–300, May 18, 1972, 86 Stat. 147, which was classified generally to former sections 558a to 558d of this title, prior to being amended generally and renamed the Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Lands Act by Pub. L. 118–234, title III, § 341, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2913. section 342 of Pub. L. 118–234, set out as a note under section 558a of this title, provides that a reference in any law to the Volunteers in National Forests Act of 1972 shall be deemed to be a reference to the Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Lands Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 558a of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 113–287 substituted “section 102301 of title 54” for “the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969” and “200305 of title 54” for “section 460l–8 of this title”.

§1250 Volunteer trails assistance