S. 403 would revise the route of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which currently runs through seven states from New York to North Dakota. Specifically, the bill would connect the trail to the Appalachian Scenic Trail in Vermont, adding about 400 miles to its overall length. The bill also would clarify that the federal government may not use condemnation to acquire land for the trail.
Based on information provided by the National Park Service, which administers the trail, and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 403 would cost about $5 million over the 2016-2020 period. Most of that amount would be spent to acquire private land (or easements on that land) along the new trail segment. CBO estimates that ongoing costs to develop, manage, and maintain the added property would be negligible. Enacting the bill would have no effect on revenues or direct spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
S. 403 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
