§583k–2 National Forest System Trails Volunteer and Partnership Strategy

Summary

The Secretary must publish in the Federal Register, not later than 2 years after November 28, 2016, a strategy to greatly increase the role of volunteers and partners in trail maintenance. The plan must boost the abilities of federal staff, offer meaningful volunteer and partner opportunities in every Forest Service region, address barriers volunteers and partners have identified, focus on regions with the worst trail needs or where backlogs threaten access, and aim to increase volunteer and partner trail maintenance by 100 percent by the date that is 5 years after November 28, 2016. The Secretary must study using fire crews for trail work in a way that does not jeopardize firefighting, public safety, or resource protection and include useful proposals in the strategy. The Secretary must adopt implementing regulations within 2 years after November 28, 2016, that make sure liability risk from volunteer trail work is shared by all administrative units. The strategy must be developed with volunteer and partner trail groups and other outdoor stakeholders. Each administrative unit must make an implementation plan that defines roles and support for volunteers and partners. Not later than 3 years after November 28, 2016, the Secretary must report to the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and on Energy and Natural Resources, and to the House Committees on Agriculture and on Natural Resources, on the strategy’s effectiveness, the increase in volunteer work, miles maintained and approximate value, the stewardship credits pilot (participating sites, total credits offered, estimated value of work, and suggestions), and recommendations to increase volunteerism and partnerships.