The A.T. is a unit of the National Park Service, meaning that it is as much a national park as Glacier or Yosemite. It is, however, a “linear park,” not a “square park,” because it was designed to pass through other federal, state, and private lands. The beauty and intent of the National Trails System Act is that, by enabling national trails to traverse other federal units, it would enhance their recreational value without diminishing or confusing their management responsibilities or authorities. In the 52 years since the Trails Act became law, the participants in the system have successfully adhered to this idea, without encountering significant internal or external conflict.
“Cowpasture” has unexpectedly called into question the division of responsibilities and authorities held by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, and, by extension, all the day-to-day managers and maintainers of the A.T. In the case, on one side, non-maintaining environmental organizations argue that three statutes, including the Trails Act, interlock to transfer all authority over the Trail in the George Washington National Forest to the National Park Service; on the other side, the U.S. government says if the Act had been meant to do that, it would explicitly say so. The ATC has submitted a brief to the Supreme Court imploring it to keep the Cooperative Management System in place as it existed before the litigation started. When the case is decided later this year, the ATC will explain what the decision says and how the Cooperative Management System will be impacted.
The A.T. is a unit of the National Park Service, meaning that it is as much a national park as Glacier or Yosemite. It is, however, a “linear park,” not a “square park,” because it was designed to pass through other federal, state, and private lands. The beauty and intent of the National Trails System Act is that, by enabling national trails to traverse other federal units, it would enhance their recreational value without diminishing or confusing their management responsibilities or authorities. In the 52 years since the Trails Act became law, the participants in the system have successfully adhered to this idea, without encountering significant internal or external conflict.
“Cowpasture” has unexpectedly called into question the division of responsibilities and authorities held by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, and, by extension, all the day-to-day managers and maintainers of the A.T. In the case, on one side, non-maintaining environmental organizations argue that three statutes, including the Trails Act, interlock to transfer all authority over the Trail in the George Washington National Forest to the National Park Service; on the other side, the U.S. government says if the Act had been meant to do that, it would explicitly say so. The ATC has submitted a brief to the Supreme Court imploring it to keep the Cooperative Management System in place as it existed before the litigation started. When the case is decided later this year, the ATC will explain what the decision says and how the Cooperative Management System will be impacted.