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Title 16 — Conservation

Chapter 27 — National Trails System

§ 1251. Definitions

Statutory text

As used in this chapter:

(1)

The term “high potential historic sites” means those historic sites related to the route, or sites in close proximity thereto, which provide opportunity to interpret the historic significance of the trail during the period of its major use. Criteria for consideration as high potential sites include historic significance, presence of visible historic remnants, scenic quality, and relative freedom from intrusion.

(2)

The term “high potential route segments” means those segments of a trail which would afford high quality recreation experience in a portion of the route having greater than average scenic values or affording an opportunity to vicariously share the experience of the original users of a historic route.

(3)

The term “State” means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

(4)

The term “without expense to the United States” means that no funds may be expended by Federal agencies for the development of trail related facilities or for the acquisition of lands or interests in lands outside the exterior boundaries of Federal areas. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, amounts made available to any State or political subdivision under chapter 2003 of title 54 or any other provision of law shall not be treated as an expense to the United States.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. National Trails System Act

    Pub. L. 90–543 § 12 · 82 Stat. 919

    Enacted · 16 U.S.C. § 1251

    Pub. L. 90–543, § 12, as added Pub. L. 98–11, title II, § 210, Mar. 28, 1983, 97 Stat. 50

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Pub. L. 90–543, § 12, as added Pub. L. 98–11, title II, § 210, Mar. 28, 1983, 97 Stat. 50

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (12) Gold Rush Trails in Alaska.

  2. Pub. L. 113–287 § 5(d)(28) · 128 Stat. 3094

    Substituted · 16 U.S.C. § 1251(4)

    Pub. L. 113–287 substituted “chapter 2003 of title 54” for “the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (4). Pub. L. 113–287 substituted “chapter 2003 of title 54” for “the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (28) Section 12(4) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1251(4)) is amended by striking “the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965” and substituting “chapter 2003 of title 54, United States Code,”.

2 of 2 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2014—Par. (4). Pub. L. 113–287 substituted “chapter 2003 of title 54” for “the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965”.

Executive Documents

Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

Credits

1983–2014 · 2 acts
  1. 1983Pub. L. 90–543, § 12, as added Pub. L. 98–11, title II, § 210, , 97 Stat. 50
  2. 2014amended Pub. L. 113–287, § 5(d)(28), , 128 Stat. 3267.
Show as published

(Pub. L. 90–543, § 12, as added Pub. L. 98–11, title II, § 210, , 97 Stat. 50; amended Pub. L. 113–287, § 5(d)(28), , 128 Stat. 3267.)

Parsed from the official OLRC USLM XML in data/usc_all/usc16.xml · release point 119-108 · OLRC build 2026-07-16

USLM identifier /us/usc/t16/s1251