Ongoing Issues

The ATC staff and volunteers spend a great deal of time—and sometimes a great deal of money—responding to a broad array of developments and conditions outside the Appalachian Trail corridor that could affect the resources and experiences available on A.T. lands. 

Some issues are “hot” for a month and then lay smoldering for months or years while judicial or legislative gears grind or a developer seeks financing for a project we're opposing. Some are less clear, but might be opportunities for positive change.

In other instances, the call-to-action requires a barrage of letters or calls to public officials. In some cases, we may be working “inside” along the sometimes fragile fault lines that are a fundamental fact of the complex, long-term partnership of private and public entities that defines A.T. management.

• Alpine Rose Driving Resort — ATC continues to monitor efforts to advance construction of Alpine Rose driving resort in Pennsylvania. 
  
  
• Air Quality Issues — In July 2001, ATC joined the Hikers for Clean Air coalition, a group active in a number of topical issues related to the Clean Air Act.
  
  
• Legislative Initiatives Related to Trails — Including proposed amendments to the National Trails System Act (NTSA), new guidelines related to access for disabled persons to outdoor environments, changes to the fee-demonstration program, and other initiatives affecting long-distance trails and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.