STATEMENT OF KAREN TAYLOR-GOODRICH, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, VISITOR AND RESOURCE PROTECTION, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S

STATEMENT OF KAREN TAYLOR-GOODRICH, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, VISITOR AND RESOURCE PROTECTION, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 2943, TO AMEND THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT TO DESIGNATE THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.

June 17, 2008

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear before the committee today to present the views of the Department of the Interior on S. 2943, a bill to amend the National Trails System Act by designating the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail as a component of the National Trails System.

The Department does not object to S. 2943 if amended to authorize an update to the nearly 30-year-old Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail feasibility study. However, we believe that priority should be given to the 38 previously authorized studies for potential units of the National Park System, potential new National Heritage Areas, and potential additions to the National Trails System and National Wild and Scenic River System that have not yet been transmitted to the Congress.

S. 2943 would designate an approximately 1200-mile trail route from the Pacific Ocean in Olympic National Park, Washington, to the east side of the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, Montana as the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. S. 2943 assigns responsibility for administering the trail to the Secretary of the Interior.

In 1977, Congress authorized a study to determine the feasibility and desirability of constructing the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (Public Law 94-527). The study was initiated in 1978 and completed in 1980, and conducted jointly by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. The study evaluated four alternatives and three potential trail corridors, and concluded that a Pacific Northwest Trail would have the scenic and recreational qualities needed for designation as a National Scenic Trail, noting that the trail “would cross some of America’s most breathtaking and varied landscapes.” However, the study concluded that its construction was neither feasible nor desirable. This conclusion was based on concerns with the cost of land acquisition and construction, a perception that there were already adequate trails available in the area, and concerns about the trail’s potential impact on grizzly bear habitat and fragile high-elevation areas.

In spite of the study’s conclusions, trail supporters moved forward with the creation of the Pacific Northwest Trail and established a private volunteer organization, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association (Association), to build, maintain, and promote the trail. The Association informs us that trail construction has been completed on approximately 950 miles of the proposed 1,200 mile route. According to the Association, an estimated 59% of the proposed Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail is on National Forest land in seven National Forests, 20% in on National Park Service land in three National Parks, 10% is on state-owned land, 6% on city and county-owned land, and 5% on privately owned land. Much of the trail route on federal land is in Congressionally designated wilderness. The segments of the Pacific Northwest Trail in Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Glacier National Park have been designated as National Recreation Trails under the National Trails System Act.

We recommend that S. 2943 be amended to authorize an update to the 1980 feasibility study and that this update be conducted jointly by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. This update is necessary because so much has changed since the 1980 feasibility study that the study’s conclusions merit revisiting. A route for the trail has been selected and much of the trail has been constructed. The route that S. 2943 would designate as the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail was not studied in the 1980 study, although it is similar to one of the routes studied. An updated feasibility study would allow the agencies to consult the public as well as the states, counties, municipalities and private landowners who own portions of the underlying route, and complete an analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. An updated feasibility study would also allow the agencies to revise cost estimates, evaluate management strategies and responsibilities, and evaluate how trail designation might impact wilderness values through Congressionally designated wilderness areas.

We anticipate that an updated feasibility study would cost approximately $250,000 - $500,000 and would be completed 3 years after funds are made available.

Section 5 (b)(7) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244) states that feasibility studies should identify the proposed Federal administering agency, “which in the case of a national scenic or national historic trail wholly or substantially within a national forest, shall be the Department of Agriculture.” For this reason we recommend that if the committee moves forward with designation, the bill should be amended to assign trail administration to the Secretary of Agriculture.

This concludes my prepared remarks, Mr. Chairman. I will be happy to answer any questions you or other committee members may have regarding this bill.