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

Summary

The Secretary must publish, within 2 years after November 28, 2016, a plan to greatly increase the use of volunteers and partner groups for National Forest trail maintenance. The plan must help and support federal staff, create real chances for volunteers and partners in every Forest Service region, fix barriers volunteers and partners have said exist, focus first on regions with the worst trail needs or where backlogs threaten access, and aim to double the amount of trail work done by volunteers and partners by 5 years after November 28, 2016. The Secretary must also study whether fire crews can safely help with trail work without hurting firefighting, public safety, or resource protection, and include any useful ideas. Rules to carry out the plan must be adopted within 2 years and must make sure the financial risk from volunteer liability or claims is shared across administrative units. The plan must be made with input from volunteer and partner trail groups and other outdoor stakeholders, and each administrative unit must write an implementation plan that spells out roles, responsibilities, and how they will coordinate and support volunteers and partners. The Secretary must report, within 3 years after November 28, 2016, on how well the plan worked, how much volunteer and partner work increased, how many trail miles volunteers and partners maintained and the approximate value of that work, the status of the stewardship credits pilot in section 583k–5 (including number of sites, total credits offered, estimated value of work, and suggestions), and recommendations for further increases. That report must go 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.