Parks and Conservation Areas 

U.S. Code > Title 16 > Chapter 27 > § 1246 - Administration and development of national trails system

(a) Secretary of the Interior to encourage States, political
  subdivisions, and private interests; financial assistance for
  State and local projects
  The Secretary of the Interior is directed to encourage States to
consider, in their comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plans
and proposals for financial assistance for State and local projects
submitted pursuant to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act [16
U.S.C. 460l-4 et seq.], needs and opportunities for establishing
park, forest, and other recreation and historic trails on lands
owned or administered by States, and recreation and historic trails
on lands in or near urban areas. The Secretary is also directed to
encourage States to consider, in their comprehensive statewide
historic preservation plans and proposals for financial assistance
for State, local, and private projects submitted pursuant to the
Act of October 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 915), as amended [16 U.S.C. 470
et seq.], needs and opportunities for establishing historic trails.
He is further directed, in accordance with the authority contained
in the Act of May 28, 1963 (77 Stat. 49) [16 U.S.C. 460l et seq.],
to encourage States, political subdivisions, and private interests,
including nonprofit organizations, to establish such trails.
(b) Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to encourage
  metropolitan and other urban areas; administrative and financial
  assistance in connection with recreation and transportation
  planning; administration of urban open-space program
  The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is directed, in
administering the program of comprehensive urban planning and
assistance under section 701 (!1) of the Housing Act of 1954, to
encourage the planning of recreation trails in connection with the
recreation and transportation planning for metropolitan and other
urban areas. He is further directed, in administering the urban
open-space program under title VII of the Housing Act of 1961 [42
U.S.C. 1500 et seq.], to encourage such recreation trails.

(c) Secretary of Agriculture to encourage States, local agencies,
  and private interests
  The Secretary of Agriculture is directed, in accordance with
authority vested in him, to encourage States and local agencies and
private interests to establish such trails.
(d) Interim use of railroad rights-of-way
  The Secretary of Transportation, the Chairman of the Surface
Transportation Board, and the Secretary of the Interior, in
administering the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act
of 1976 [45 U.S.C. 801 et seq.], shall encourage State and local
agencies and private interests to establish appropriate trails
using the provisions of such programs. Consistent with the purposes
of that Act, and in furtherance of the national policy to preserve
established railroad rights-of-way for future reactivation of rail
service, to protect rail transportation corridors, and to encourage
energy efficient transportation use, in the case of interim use of
any established railroad rights-of-way pursuant to donation,
transfer, lease, sale, or otherwise in a manner consistent with
this chapter, if such interim use is subject to restoration or
reconstruction for railroad purposes, such interim use shall not be
treated, for purposes of any law or rule of law, as an abandonment
of the use of such rights-of-way for railroad purposes. If a State,
political subdivision, or qualified private organization is
prepared to assume full responsibility for management of such
rights-of-way and for any legal liability arising out of such
transfer or use, and for the payment of any and all taxes that may
be levied or assessed against such rights-of-way, then the Board
shall impose such terms and conditions as a requirement of any
transfer or conveyance for interim use in a manner consistent with
this chapter, and shall not permit abandonment or discontinuance
inconsistent or disruptive of such use.
(e) Designation and marking of trails; approval of Secretary of the
  Interior
  Such trails may be designated and suitably marked as parts of the
nationwide system of trails by the States, their political
subdivisions, or other appropriate administering agencies with the
approval of the Secretary of the Interior.

Legislative History

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U.S. Code Provisions: Parks and Conservation Areas

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