Effective Date: 8/16/77

Series: Water and Land Resources

Part 710: National Rivers and Trails Systems

Chapter 1: Purpose, Policy, Responsibility

Originating Office: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks

1.2 Authority. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and the National Trails System were established by law during the 90^th Congress; Public Law 90-542 and 90-543, respectively.

1.3 Policy. The laws cited in 710 DM 1.2, and amendments thereto, place the responsibility for administration upon the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture and provide that such river and trail systems which are established will be effectively planned, developed and operated as national systems. It is Departmental policy that Interior will cooperate in every way and at every level to assist in the fulfillment of these programs and in doing so will work with other Federal, State and local agencies and private interests.

1.4 Responsibilities.

A. The Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. The Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks will be responsible for:

(2) Preparation of recommendations to the Secretary regarding the approval, establishment, or designation of State and locally administered rivers and trails as part of the National Rivers and Trails Systems.

(3) Establishing an intra-Departmental committee as provided in 710 DM 1.5 to advise on overall program direction.

B. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation.

(2) The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation will make studies and investigations to determine which additional river areas within the United States should be evaluated as wild, scenic or recreation rivers in planning reports by all Federal agencies as potential alternative uses of the water and related land resources involved (Sec. 5(d) of Public Law 90-542).

(3) The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation will prepare recommendations for the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks regarding the addition of State-administered rivers and trails to the System. Whenever such rivers and trails involve lands under the jurisdiction of any Interior bureau or other Federal agency, the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation will consult with such bureaus or agencies and incorporate their views and recommendations.

C. Bureaus.

(1) The land administering bureaus assigned management responsibility for an Interior component of the National Rivers and Trails Systems will prepare a master plan for the development and management of the component. Such plan will be in accordance with the conceptual plan prepared by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, and any guidance received during Congressional deliberations on the proposed component. The assignments of management responsibility by the Secretary of the Interior are as follows:

* Management responsibility shared with respective states.

(2) Future assignment of management responsibility of Interior Department components will be made by the Secretary. Primary consideration for such assignments will be given to the land administering bureau having jurisdiction over the majority of the land over which rivers and trails in the national system pass.

(3) The bureaus assigned management responsibility for components of the National Rivers and Trails Systems have been delegated authority necessary for carrying out the purpose of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.), and the National Trails System Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.), relating to the selection and location of boundaries, property acquisition, development and administration under guidelines and policies developed by the Intra-Departmental National Rivers and Trails Committee (710 DM 1.5) as approved by the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

(4) The bureaus have the responsibility for development and management of Interior lands under their jurisdiction which may be included in components of the National Rivers and Trails Systems where administration is assigned to the Department of Agriculture. Upon approval of an Agriculture Department plan by the Congress, where Interior Department lands are involved, the responsible bureau will develop and manage its lands in accordance with the approved plan.

1.5 Intra-Departmental National Rivers and Trails Committee. The Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks will establish an Intra-Departmental National Rivers and Trails Committee. The committee shall advise the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks as provided in 710 DM 1.4C(3) and on overall program direction. Each bureau which administers land over which national rivers or trails might pass, and the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation will be represented on the Intra-Departmental National Rivers and Trails Committee. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation will furnish staff assistance to the meetings and to the work of the Committee.

8/16/77 #2004

Replaces 1/14/72 #1385