Protect the Trail
New threats to the Trail arise every day. These are threats to the hiking experience and the fragile web of life found on the A.T. may include eminent domain for National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, the expansion of highways and roads, and planning for appropriate development around the Trail corridor. ATC and its members have the opportunity to defend the Trail by voicing support for state and federal conservation funding, and other legislation to protect the Trail. We often need to mobilize our membership and the public to come to the aid of the Trail through letter-writing campaigns and by spreading the word. On this page you will find a variety of issues in which the ATC is engaged. Your help is needed in defending America’s greatest Trail. Start by making a donation to support our efforts. PATH Powerline Update - Comments Due August 8July 13, 2010 - The National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are seeking public comment as they develop an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH). This new 765 kV electric transmission line will cross West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland and would cross the Appalachian Trail, three other national park units, and the Monangahela National Forest. See this scoping newsletter for information on the project and the EIS process, including a schedule of public meetings and how to submit comments. Public meetings will be held in July, and comments should be submitted by August 5. america's great outdoors presidential initiativeJune 29, 2010 - In April, President Obama established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation and recreation agenda worthy of the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. Recognizing that any such effort must be community driven and supported, the President directed the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality to lead this effort and to listen and learn from people all over the country. Public listening sessions are being planned for various venues around the country. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy encourages its members and all who support, hike, and love the Appalachian Trail to participate in this process. Find out when sessions are scheduled and how to participate here. U.S. Forest Service developing a new land-management planning ruleATC has submitted comments recommending standards and guides for the consistent management of the A.T. across eight national forests. Public meetings are being held, including national roundtables scheduled for April 1 and 2, April 20 and 21, and May 11 and 12 in Washington, DC. Regional roundtables will be held in April. Although the exact dates have not yet been set, the roundtable for the Southern Region (Region 8) will be held in Atlanta during the week of April 12 and for the Eastern Region (Region 9) in Chicago during the week of April 28. George Washington National Forest land management plan revisionA 60-day comment period ending May 7 provides an opportunity for the public to help refine the issues to be studied during the environmental analysis for the George Washington National Forest land management plan. More information is here. windfarm proposed outside bigelow preserve in maineHighland Wind LLC is proposing what would be the largest wind farm in the state near Maine’s Bigelow Preserve. ATC has requested a public hearing and petitioned to intervene in the permitting process before the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission. The Maine A.T. Club has developed a slide show with views of the proposed site from the A.T. in Bigelow, known as “Maine’s second mountain” after Katahdin. Air national guard overflights in maineATC has opposed a proposal in a draft EIS to modifiy operation areas for Air National Guard flights over western Maine. The modification would allow 500-foot overflights of the A.T., with peak noise levels of more than 117 decibels. Accessibility comments due December 18The Draft Final Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas can be found at regulations.gov/. Enter ATBCB-2009-0006 in the search field to view the guidelines, submit comments, and see other comments that have been submitted. December 10, 2009 — ATC has submitted its comments to the federal Access Board on the accessibility guidelines. December 9, 2009 — The USDA Forest Service comments on these guidelines were submitted to the Access Board. October 26, 2009 — On October 19, 2009, the federal Access Board posted “Draft Final Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas” for a 60-day public review and comment period. Comments must be submitted by December 18. The U.S. Forest Service views most of the technical provisions in the guidelines to be appropriate, however, it has expressed concerns related to a lack of guidance on decision making and reporting needed to implement the guidelines on trails. HELP PROTECT AMERICAN TRAILS THIS SUMMER—SUPPORT THE "COMPLETE AMERICA'S GREAT TRAILS ACT"July 13, 2009 — This summer, with hiking season in full gear, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy urges you to contact your congressional representative in support of the “Complete America’s Great Trails Act” (HR 1912). While there are only a half-dozen miles of the Appalachian Trail still to be protected, some of the surrounding lands that we consider essential to preserving the experience afforded Trail visitors are undergoing intense development pressure. This bipartisan legislation will provide incentives for private landowners to preserve their land and benefit not only the A.T., but all of the National Scenic Trails. It requires no direct spending from the federal government, gives a significant tax break to willing landowners, and helps ensure that America continues to benefit from our incredible trail resources. The American Hiking Society has more information on this important legislation. Voice Support for Public Lands Bill in HouseFebruary 4, 2009 — The U.S. Senate has passed S.22 – the omnibus Public Lands Act which will provide a number of provisions for the advancement and preservation of our National Trails System. Now it's time to seek support for the bill in the House. Find out how to help. Help Us Protect A.T. LandsJanuary 2009 — ATC is requesting Fiscal Year 2010 funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). These funds would be used for the acquisition of lands bordering the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in the states of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. ATC Requests Rehearing in National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor Decision In November 2007, ATC joined the Southern Environmental Law Center, Piedmont Environmental Council, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and more than a dozen other groups to petition for a rehearing before the Department of Energy regarding their designation of National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors. New Accessibility Guidelines ProposedIn October 2007, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy submitted comments to the U.S. Access Board in response to proposed rules regarding accessibility guidelines for federally managed outdoor areas. Support a Bill for Roadless AreasIn January 2007, six Congressmen began drumming up support for original co-sponsors of a bi-partisan conservation measure – the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2007.
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The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a unit of the National Park System. In coordination with the A.T. Park Office, ATC manages and protects the Trail. Integral to these efforts are those of the U.S. Forest Service, state and local agencies, 30-Trail maintaining clubs and 6000 volunteers. Learn more.
Partnerships
