Sec. 2. Accessible trails and recreation opportunities for military servicemembers and veterans
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Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall— carry out a comprehensive assessment of outdoor recreation facilities on Federal recreational lands and waters under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary concerned to determine the accessibility of such outdoor recreation facilities, consistent with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq. ), including— camp shelters, camping facilities, and camping units; boat launch ramps; hunting, fishing, shooting, or archery ranges or locations; outdoor constructed features; picnic facilities and picnic units; and any other outdoor recreation facilities, as determined by the Secretary concerned; and make information about such opportunities available (including through the use of prominently displayed links) on public websites of— each of the Federal land management agencies; and each relevant unit and subunit of the Federal land management agencies.
As part of the comprehensive assessment required under paragraph (1)(A), to the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned may rely on assessments completed or data gathered prior to the date of enactment of this Act. Not later than 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall identify opportunities to create, update, or replace signage and other publicly available information, including web page information, related to accessibility and consistent with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq. ) at outdoor recreation facilities covered by the assessment required under paragraph (1)(A).
Not later than 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall— conduct a comprehensive assessment of trails on Federal recreational lands and waters under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary concerned, including measuring each trail’s— surface; clear tread width; passing spaces; size; tread obstacles; openings; slopes, including cross slope; maximum running slope and segment length; resting intervals; length; width; turning space; protruding objects; and trailhead signs; and make information about such trails available (including through the use of prominently displayed links) on public websites of— each of the Federal land management agencies; and each relevant unit and subunit of the Federal land management agencies.
As part of the comprehensive assessment required under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary concerned may, to the extent practicable, rely on assessments completed or data gathered prior to the date of enactment of this Act. Not later than 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall identify opportunities to replace signage and other publicly available information, including webpage information, related to such trails and consistent with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq. ) at trails covered by the assessment required under paragraph (1)(A).
The Secretary concerned shall consult with stakeholders, including veterans organizations and organizations with expertise or experience providing outdoor recreation opportunities to individuals with disabilities, in selecting priority trails to measure under paragraph (1)(A). In publishing information about each trail under this subsection, the Secretary concerned shall make public information about trails that do not meet the Architectural Barriers Act accessibility guidelines but could otherwise provide outdoor recreation opportunities to individuals with disabilities through the use of certain assistive equipment.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall carry out a pilot program to enter into partnerships with eligible entities to— measure trails as part of the assessment required under subsection (b); develop accessible trails under subsection (d); and make minor modifications to existing trails to enhance recreational experiences for individuals with disabilities using assistive technology— in compliance with all applicable land use and management plans of the Federal recreational lands and waters on which the accessible trail is located; and in consultation with stakeholders, including veterans organizations and organizations with expertise or experience providing outdoor recreation opportunities to individuals with disabilities.
The Secretary concerned shall select no fewer than 5 units or subunits under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary concerned to carry out the pilot program established under subparagraph (1). In selecting the locations of the pilot programs, the Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that at least one pilot program is carried out in a unit managed by the— National Park Service; Bureau of Land Management; and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The pilot program established under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall select a location or locations to develop at least 3 new accessible trails— on National Forest System lands in each region of the Forest Service; on land managed by the National Park Service in each region of the National Park Service; on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in each region of the Bureau of Land Management; and on land managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in each region of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
In developing an accessible trail under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned— may— create a new accessible trail; modify an existing trail into an accessible trail; or create an accessible trail from a combination of new and existing trails; and shall— consult with stakeholders with respect to the feasibility and resources necessary for completing the accessible trail; ensure the accessible trail complies with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq. ); and to the extent practicable, ensure that outdoor constructed features supporting the accessible trail, including parking spaces and restroom facilities, meet the requirements of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.
Not later than 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in coordination with stakeholders consulted with under paragraph (2)(B), shall complete each accessible trail developed under paragraph (1). For each accessible trail developed under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall— publish and distribute maps and install signage, consistent with Architectural Barriers Act accessibility guidelines; and coordinate with stakeholders to leverage any non-Federal resources necessary for the development, stewardship, completion, or promotion of the accessible trail.
In developing each accessible trail under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall ensure that the accessible trail— minimizes conflict with— the uses in effect before the date of the enactment of this Act with respect to any trail or road that is part of that accessible trail; multiple-use areas where biking, hiking, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle recreation, or use by pack and saddle stock are existing uses on the date of the enactment of this Act; or the purposes for which any trail is established under the National Trails System Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq. ); and complies with all applicable land use and management plans of the Federal recreational lands and waters on which the accessible trail is located.
Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in partnership with stakeholders and other interested organizations, shall prepare and publish an interim report that lists the accessible trails developed under this subsection during the previous 3 years. Not later than 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in partnership with stakeholders and other interested organizations, shall prepare and publish a final report that lists the accessible trails developed under this subsection.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall select a location to develop at least 2 new accessible recreation opportunities— on National Forest System lands in each region of the Forest Service; on land managed by the National Park Service in each region of the National Park Service; on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in each region of the Bureau of Land Management; and on land managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in each region of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
In developing an accessible recreation opportunity under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned— may— create a new accessible recreation opportunity; or modify an existing recreation opportunity into an accessible recreation opportunity; and shall— consult with stakeholders with respect to the feasibility and resources necessary for completing the accessible recreation opportunity; ensure the accessible recreation opportunity complies with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq. ); and to the extent practicable, ensure that outdoor constructed features supporting the accessible recreation opportunity, including parking spaces and restroom facilities, meet the requirements of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.
The accessible recreation opportunities developed under paragraph
(1)may include improving accessibility or access to— camp shelters, camping facilities, and camping units; hunting, fishing, shooting, or archery ranges or locations; snow activities, including skiing and snowboarding; water activities, including kayaking, paddling, canoeing, and boat launch ramps; rock climbing; biking; off-highway vehicle recreation; picnic facilities and picnic units; outdoor constructed features; and any other new or existing recreation opportunities identified in consultation with stakeholders under paragraph (2)(B) and consistent with the applicable land management plan. Not later than 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in coordination with stakeholders consulted with under paragraph (2), shall complete each accessible recreation opportunity developed under paragraph (1). For each accessible recreation opportunity developed under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall— publish and distribute maps and install signage, consistent with Architectural Barriers Act accessibility guidelines; and coordinate with stakeholders to leverage any non-Federal resources necessary for the development, stewardship, completion, or promotion of the accessible trail. In developing each accessible recreation opportunity under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall ensure that the accessible recreation opportunity— minimizes conflict with— the uses in effect before the date of the enactment of this Act with respect to any Federal recreational lands and waters on which the accessible recreation opportunity is located; or multiple-use areas in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act; and complies with all applicable land use and management plans of the Federal recreational lands and waters on which the accessible recreational opportunity is located. Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in partnership with stakeholders and other interested organizations, shall prepare and publish an interim report that lists the accessible trails developed under this subsection during the previous 3 years. Not later than 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in partnership with stakeholders and other interested organizations, shall prepare and publish a final report that lists the accessible trails developed under this subsection. In carrying out this section, the Secretary concerned may enter into partnerships, contracts, or agreements with other Federal, State, Tribal, local, or private entities, including existing outfitting and guiding services, to make assistive technology available on Federal recreational lands and waters. Nothing in the Act shall be construed to create any conflicting standards with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq. ).
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Sec. 2
Accessible trails and recreation opportunities for military servicemembers and veterans
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