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…the bill includes provisions that would authorize the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to enter into cooperative agreements with private parties to promote the role of volunteers in trail maintenance.
Congress Continues to Promote Land Access
On July 26, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Rob Bishop (R-UT) introduced the “Recreation Not Red-Tape (RNR)” Act (S 1633/HR 3400), legislation that expands the scope of the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act (PL 114-245), which was signed into law in late 2016.
While the RNR focuses on streamlined permitting to access public lands, the bill includes provisions that would authorize the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to enter into cooperative agreements with private parties to promote the role of volunteers in trail maintenance. The bill also authorizes the USDA and BLM to develop an interagency trail management plan that will assure uniform maintenance standards for trails crossing jurisdictional lines between the two agencies.
The Trails Act outlines a detailed program including goals and timetables by which the USDA will leverage private partners to clear trails long overdue for maintenance. Unlike the RNR Act, which applies to both the BLM and USDA’s National Forest System (NFS), the Trails Act focuses only on trails under the jurisdiction of the NFS.
Free Range Report
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I do not think this Bill goes far enough, in that it must require the land use to be the most friendly to multiple use as a priority over all other restricted uses controlled by environment restrictions, and monument designation. That the endangered species act will only be used to increase the species on special ranches or farms to be reintroduced into the associated public lands. That the endangered species act will no longer be used to restrict multiple use of our public lands.