PUBLIC LAW 94-210—FEB. 5, 1976 report shall evaluate and make suggestions concerning potential alternate uses of, and public policy with respect to the conversion of, railroad rights-of-way on which service has been discontinued or is likely to be discontinued. This report shall include— (1) an inventory statement developed by the Secretary as to all abandoned railroad rights-of-way and significant segments of such rights-of-way which retain their linear characteristics, including, as to each, identification of the owner of record and an evaluation of its topography, characteristics, condition, approximate value, and alternate use suitability; (2) an evaluation of the advantages of establishing a rail bank consisting of selected such rights-of-way, as a means of assuring their availability for potential railroad use in the future, a discussion of interim uses for such rights-of-way, the development of conveyancing and leasing forms, conditions, and practices to assure such availability, a projection as to the costs of such a program, and recommendations regarding the administration of such a program; (3) a survey of existing Federal, State, and local programs utilizing or attempting to utilize abandoned railroad rights-ofway for public purposes, including an assessment of the benefits and costs of each; and (4) an assessment and evaluation of suggestions for more effective public utilization of abandoned railix>ad rights-of-way, including recommendations for legislative, administrative, and regulatory action, if any, and proposals as to the optimum level of funding therefor. (b) iNroRMATioN AND FuNDiNG.—The Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with the Secretary, shall, in accordance with this subsection, provide financial, educational, and technical assistance to local. State, and Federal governmental entities for programs involving the conversion of abandoned railroad rights-of-way to recreational and conservational uses, in such manner as to coordinate and accelerate such conversion, where appropriate. Such assistance shall include— (1) encouraging and facilitating exchanges of information dealing with the availability of railroad rights-of-way, the technology involved in converting such properties to such public purposes, and related matters; (2) making grants, in consultation with the Bureau of Outdoor Eecreation of the Department of the Interior, to State and local governmental entities to enable them to plan, acquire, and develop recreational or conservational facilities on abandoned railroad rights-of-way, which grants shall cover not more than 90 percent of the cost of the planning, acquisition, or development activity of the particular project for which funds are sought; (3) allocating funds to other Federal programs concerned with recreation or conservation in order to enable abandoned railroad rights-of-way, where appropriate, to be included in or made into national parks, national trails, national recreational areas, wildlife refuges, or other national areas dedicated to recreational or conservational uses; and (4) providing technical assistance to other Federal agencies. States, local agencies, and private groups for the purpose of enhancing conversion projects. To increase the available information and expertise, the Secretary may contract for special studies or projects and may otherwise collect, evaluate, and disseminate information dealing with the utilization of such rights-of-way.
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