§ 113A-75. Assistance under this Article with the National Trails System Act (PL 90-543). - North Carolina Statutes

§ 113A‑75. Assistance under this Article with the National Trails System Act (PL 90‑543).

(a)        The Department of Administration in cooperation with otherappropriate State departments shall consult with the federal agencies chargedwith the administration of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina and developa mutually agreeable plan for the orderly and coordinated acquisition ofAppalachian Trail right‑of‑way and the associated tracts, asneeded, to provide a suitable environment for the Appalachian Trail in NorthCarolina.

(b)        The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and thefederal agencies charged with the responsibility of the administration of theAppalachian Trail in North Carolina shall give due consideration to theconservation of the environment of the Appalachian Trail and, in accordancewith the National Trails System Act, may obtain advice and assistance fromlocal governments, Carolina Mountain Club, Nantahala Hiking Club, PiedmontAppalachian Trail Hikers, Appalachian Trail Conference, other interestedorganizations and individuals, landowners and land users concerned.

(c)        The Board of Transportation shall cooperate and assist incarrying out the purposes of this Article and the National Trails System Actwhere their highway projects cross or may be adjacent to any component of theAppalachian Trail System.

(d)        Lands acquired by the State of North Carolina within the 200‑feetright‑of‑way of the Appalachian Trail and within the exteriorboundaries of the Pisgah or Nantahala National Forests, will be conveyed to theUnited States Forest Service as the federal agency charged with theresponsibility for the administration and management of the Appalachian Trailwithin these specific areas.

(e)        Lands acquired by the State of North Carolina outside of theboundaries of the Appalachian Trail right‑of‑way will beadministered by the appropriate State department in such a manner as topreserve and enhance the environment of the Appalachian Trail.

(f)         In consultation with the Department of Environment andNatural Resources, the federal agency charged with the responsibility of theadministration of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina shall establish useregulations in accordance with the National Trails System Act.

(g)        The use of motor vehicles on the trails of the NorthCarolina Appalachian Trail System may be authorized when such use is necessaryto meet emergencies or to enable adjacent landowners to have reasonable accessto their lands and timber rights provided that the granting of this access isin accordance with limitations and conditions of such use set forth in theNational Trails System Act. (1973, c. 507, s. 5; c. 545, s. 4; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s.218(62); 1997‑443, s. 11A.119(a).)