S 3720
Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act
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Bill overview
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study to determine if the Bay Area Ridge Trail should be designated as a National Scenic Trail. The trail, spanning approximately 550 miles, offers access to scenic areas and recreational opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The study will consider the trail's features, potential for national recognition, and involve consultations with relevant agencies and organizations.
Key provisions
- Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study.
- Specifies a one-year deadline for completing the study.
- Requires consultation with the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council.
- Mandates consultation with relevant federal and state agencies.
- Defines the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a multi-use trail of approximately 550 miles.
- Highlights the trail’s connection to over 75 parks and open spaces.
- Identifies key features of the trail, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Andreas Fault.
- References connections to other trails like the Bay Trail and Vine Trail.
Who is affected
- The Department of the Interior
- Federal and State agencies administering land along the trail
- The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
- Residents of the San Francisco Bay Area
- Visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area
Notable changes
- Establishes a formal process for evaluating the Bay Area Ridge Trail for national scenic trail designation.
Sponsors
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
S. 3720
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
A BILL
To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bay Area Ridge as a national scenic trail, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act
.
Congress finds that the Bay Area Ridge Trail—
is a scenic nonmotorized multi-use trail that extends approximately 550 miles;
consists of approximately 415 completed miles and another approximately 140 miles of the route that are not yet completed;
is located near urban areas of the United States;
provides maximum outdoor recreation potential to a large, diverse population and many year-round visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area;
provides for the enjoyment of nationally significant scenic, historic, and cultural qualities, including the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and State and local parks, among others;
passes through diverse environments, including marsh, grassland, mountain, canyon, rivers, and forests;
includes landforms that exhibit significant characteristics, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Andreas fault, volcanic areas, geologic formations, and wetlands; and
connects with side trails and regional connector trails, such as the Bay Trail, Vine Trail, and Coyote Creek Trail, which provide additional public access and connect to major population centers.
Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
The Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail, a multi-use trail extending approximately 550 miles along the ridgelines of the hills and mountains surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area in northern California and connecting over 75 parks and open spaces.
Notwithstanding subsection (b), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with interested organizations (including the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council), shall complete and submit to Congress the feasibility study for designating the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a national scenic trail.
The study under this paragraph shall be conducted in consultation with each Federal agency and State agency that administers land through which the trail described in subparagraph (A) passes.