Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§583k–3 Priority Trail Maintenance Program

Title 16 › CHAPTER 3 — FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT › SUBCHAPTER VI — NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM TRAILS STEWARDSHIP › § 583k–3

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must pick no fewer than 9 and no more than 15 priority areas on National Forest System land within 6 months after November 28, 2016. Priority areas are places where poor trail upkeep has cut off access, harmed or risked harm to natural resources, made trails unsafe, left trails unusable for their intended users, or raised future repair costs. In choosing areas, the Secretary must consider public comments received within 3 months of November 28, 2016, think about all kinds of trail users (including motorized and non-motorized), and include at least one area in each U.S. Forest Service region. Within 6 months after picking the areas, the Secretary must make a plan to greatly increase trail maintenance in each area. The plan must consider public input, weigh costs and benefits, and use partners and volunteers. Regional volunteer and partnership coordinators can help organizations run volunteer projects. The Secretary will review the list from time to time and may add or remove priority areas as he decides.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §583k–3

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Selection

In accordance with subsections (b) and (c), not later than 6 months after November 28, 2016, the Secretary of Agriculture shall select no fewer than 9 and no more than 15 priority areas for increased trail maintenance accomplishments.

(b)Criteria

Priority areas shall include a well-defined region on National Forest System land where the lack of trail maintenance has—

(1)reduced access to public land;

(2)led to an increase, or risk of increase, in harm to natural resources;

(3)jeopardized public safety;

(4)resulted in trails being impassible by the intended managed users; or

(5)increased future deferred trail maintenance costs.

(c)Requirements

In selecting priority areas, the Secretary shall—

(1)consider any public input on priority areas received within 3 months of November 28, 2016;

(2)consider the range of trail users (including motorized and non-motorized trail users); and

(3)include at least one priority area in each region of the United States Forest Service.

(d)Increased trail maintenance

(1)In general

Within 6 months of the selection of priority areas under subsection (a), and in accordance with paragraph (2), the Secretary shall develop an approach to substantially increase trail maintenance accomplishments within each priority area.

(2)Contents

In developing the approach under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A)consider any public input on trail maintenance priorities and needs within any priority area;

(B)consider the costs and benefits of increased trail maintenance within each priority area; and

(C)incorporate partners and volunteers in the trail maintenance.

(3)Required trail maintenance

Utilizing the approach developed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall substantially increase trail maintenance within each priority area.

(e)Coordination

The regional volunteer and partnership coordinators may be responsible for assisting partner organizations in developing and implementing volunteer and partnership projects to increase trail maintenance within priority areas.

(f)Revision

The Secretary shall periodically review the priority areas to determine whether revisions are necessary and may revise the priority areas, including the selection of new priority areas or removal of existing priority areas, at his sole discretion.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 583k–3

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110