HR 5470
Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act
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Bill overview
This bill designates Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, preserving its historical significance and promoting its study and enjoyment. It outlines how the trail will be administered, emphasizing respect for its unique character and requiring consultation with affected Native American tribes. The legislation also establishes limitations on land acquisition and prohibits the use of eminent domain, while maintaining existing rights for energy development and easements.
Key provisions
- Designates Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, spanning approximately 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica.
- Specifies the trail’s boundaries based on the 1926-1985 alignments of U.S. Highway 66.
- Establishes the National Park Service as the administering body, prioritizing preservation of the trail’s historical nature.
- Requires consultation with affected Native American tribes before any trail-related activities.
- Limits land acquisition for the trail to areas outside federally managed areas and restricts expansion beyond one-quarter mile on either side.
- Prohibits the use of eminent domain or condemnation for trail-related land acquisition.
- Ensures that existing rights for energy development and easements are maintained.
- Clarifies that the designation does not create buffer zones or designate the trail as part of the National Park System.
Who is affected
- Travelers and tourists
- Local communities along the Route 66 corridor
- Native American Tribes
Sponsors
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5470
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Route 66 National Historic Trail, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act
.
Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(a)) is amended—
by adding at the end the following:
The Route 66 National Historic Trail, a trail that includes all the alignments of U.S. Highway 66 in existence between 1926 and 1985, extending along a route of approximately 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, as generally depicted on the map entitled Route 66 National Historic Trail, Proposed Route
, numbered P26/141,279, and dated December 2017.
The map described in subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
The Route 66 National Historic Trail shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service. Such administration shall be conducted in a manner that respects and maintains the idiosyncratic nature of the Route 66 National Historic Trail.
The United States may not acquire for the Route 66 National Historic Trail any land or interest in land—
outside the exterior boundary of any federally managed area without the consent of the owner of the land or interest in land; or
that extends more than an average of one-quarter of a mile on either side of the trail.
Nothing in this Act, the acquisition of the land or an interest in land authorized by this Act, or the management plan for the Route 66 National Historic Trail shall be construed to create buffer zones outside of the Trail. That activities or uses can be seen, heard, or detected from the acquired land shall not preclude, limit, control, regulate, or determine the conduct or management of activities or uses outside of the trail.
In carrying out this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may not use eminent domain or condemnation.
lands in the national park system
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the designation of the Route 66 National Historic Trail by this paragraph shall not have the effect of designating the Route 66 National Historic Trail or any land on which the Route 66 National Historic Trail is located as lands in the National Park System
for purposes of section 28(b)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185(b)(1)).
Notwithstanding the designation of the Route 66 National Historic Trail by this paragraph, the head of any Federal agency having jurisdiction over any Federal land on which the Route 66 National Historic Trail designated by this paragraph is located (other than land that is considered to be lands in the National Park System
for purposes of section 28(b)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185(b)(1)) as a result of a designation under any other law), shall have the authority to grant easements or rights-of-way over, under, across, or along any applicable portion of the Route 66 National Historic Trail in accordance with the laws applicable to the Federal land.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the designation of the Route 66 National Historic Trail by this paragraph shall not subject the Route 66 National Historic Trail or any land on which the Route 66 National Historic Trail is located to any other Federal laws (including regulations) requiring a Federal permit or authorization that would otherwise be made applicable as a result of the designation of the Route 66 National Historic Trail as a component of the National Trails System.