Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act

This Act may be cited as the “Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act”.

Congress finds that the Bay Area Ridge Trail—

(1) is a scenic nonmotorized multi-use trail that extends approximately 550 miles;

(2) consists of approximately 415 completed miles and another approximately 140 miles of the route that are not yet completed;

(3) is located near urban areas of the United States;

(4) allows people to access the scenic ridgelines of the San Francisco Bay Area;

(5) provides maximum outdoor recreation potential to a large, diverse population and many year-round visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area;

(6) 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;

(7) passes through diverse environments, including marsh, grassland, mountain, canyon, rivers, and forests;

(8) includes landforms that exhibit significant characteristics, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Andreas fault, volcanic areas, geologic formations, and wetlands; and

(9) 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:

“(50) Bay area ridge national scenic trail.—

(A) In general.— 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.

(B) Study.— 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.

(C) Consultation.— 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.”.