H.R. 1026 would revise the route of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which currently runs through seven states from New York to North Dakota. Specifically, the bill would connect the trail to the Appalachian Scenic Trail in Vermont, adding about 550 miles to its overall length.
Using information from the National Park Service, which administers the trail, and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1026 would cost about $5 million over the 2019-2023 period. Most of that amount would be spent to acquire private land (or easements on that land) along the new trail segment. CBO estimates that ongoing costs to develop, manage, and maintain the added property would be negligible.
Enacting H.R. 1026 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1026 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
H.R. 1026 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
On April 17, 2017, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S. 363, the North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on March 30, 2017. The two bills are similar, and CBO’s estimates of their budgetary effects are the same.
