Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§1262 National Recreational Trails Advisory Committee

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 27A— - NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAILS FUND › § 1262

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a 12-member National Recreational Trails Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary. Eight members are chosen from trail user groups and cover uses such as hiking, cross‑country skiing, off‑highway motorcycling, snowmobiling, horseback riding, all‑terrain vehicle riding, bicycling, and four‑wheel driving. One member represents people with disabilities. One is a government official with science or natural resources experience; that official is the Chair and does not vote. One comes from water trail user group nominations and one from hunting and fishing enthusiast nominations. Any committee action must have support from at least five of the eight user-group members. Members serve three-year terms, but five of the eleven positions start with two-year terms. The committee must meet at least twice a year to review state use of funds, set trail facility funding criteria, and recommend federal policy changes. It must send an annual report to the Secretary. Nongovernmental members are unpaid but may be reimbursed for travel and necessary expenses if funds are available under section 1261(d)(1)(B) of this title. The Secretary must, no later than 4 years after December 18, 1991, send a study to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure summarizing the committee’s reports, describing fund allocation and use, and recommending policy changes. The committee ends on September 30, 2000.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §1262

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is established the National Recreational Trails Advisory Committee.
(b)There shall be 12 members of the advisory committee, consisting of—
(1)8 members appointed by the Secretary from nominations submitted by recreational trail user organizations, one each representing the following recreational trail uses:
(A)hiking,
(B)cross-country skiing,
(C)off-highway motorcycling,
(D)snowmobiling,
(E)horseback riding,
(F)all-terrain vehicle riding,
(G)bicycling, and
(H)four-wheel driving;
(2)1 member appointed by the Secretary representing individuals with disabilities;
(3)an appropriate official of government with a background in science or natural resources management, including any official of State or local government, designated by the Secretary;
(4)1 member appointed by the Secretary from nominations submitted by water trail user organizations; and
(5)1 member appointed by the Secretary from nominations submitted by hunting and fishing enthusiast organizations.
(c)The Chair of the advisory committee shall be the government official referenced in subsection (b)(3), who shall serve as a non-voting member.
(d)Any action, recommendation, or policy of the advisory committee must be supported by at least five of the members appointed under subsection (b)(1).
(e)Members of the advisory committee appointed by the Secretary shall be appointed for terms of three years, except that the members filling five of the eleven positions shall be initially appointed for terms of two years, with subsequent appointments to those positions extending for terms of three years.
(f)The advisory committee shall meet at least twice annually to—
(1)review utilization of allocated moneys by States;
(2)establish and review criteria for trail-side and trail-head facilities that qualify for funding under this chapter; and
(3)make recommendations to the Secretary for changes in Federal policy to advance the purposes of this chapter.
(g)The advisory committee shall present to the Secretary an annual report on its activities.
(h)Nongovernmental members of the advisory committee shall serve without pay, but, to the extent funds are available pursuant to section 1261(d)(1)(B) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title, shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(i)Not later than 4 years after December 18, 1991, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, a study which summarizes the annual reports of the National Recreational Trails Advisory Committee, describes the allocation and utilization of moneys under this chapter, and contains recommendations for changes in Federal policy to advance the purposes of this chapter.
(j)The advisory committee established by this section shall terminate on September 30, 2000.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 1261 of this title, referred to in subsec. (h), was repealed by Pub. L. 105–178, title I, § 1112(c), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 151.

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 105–178 added subsec. (j). 1995—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–59, § 337(e)(1)(A), substituted “12” for “11” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(2) to (5). Pub. L. 104–59, § 337(e)(1)(B), (C), added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (4) as (3) to (5), respectively. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–59, § 337(e)(2), substituted “(b)(3)” for “(b)(2)”. Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 104–59, § 325(h), substituted “Transportation and Infrastructure” for “Public Works and Transportation”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 1262

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73