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Local Management Plans
Each Trail club develops policies for its Trail section in close coordination with ATC and its state and federal agency partners and documents the “local” approach to Trail management and maintenance activities. Creating each Local Management Plan requires dialogue, communication, and fine-tuning of responsibilities among partners, and a recognition of the unique situations and relationships that exist within each Trail club’s A.T. section. Together with the A.T. Comprehensive Plan and the guide below, the Local Management Plan becomes the club’s “bible” for managing its section of the Trail. Ideally, club plans are reviewed and updated at no more than a 10-year interval.
Local Management Planning Guide
The Local Management Planning Guide (LMPG) consolidates the ATC and NPS policies to assist the clubs in developing management plans for their Trail sections. The LMPG was last revised in 2009. Current conservation and Trail management policies, including those adopted since that update, can be found on the Policies page.
A.T. maintaining clubs with Trail sections in Pennsylvania should also consult the Pennsylvania Local Management Planning Guide, which incorporates state agency policies, in developing their management plans. Trail clubs with sections on Forest Service or state lands should work closely with their agency partners. The ATC regional offices work with the clubs and agencies to develop and implement local management plans for the Appalachian Trail.
2010 Pennsylvania Local Management Planning Guide 
2009 Local Management Planning Guide
LMPG Appendices and Other Documents
Appendix A Form A-1 Trail Project Proposal and Review Form
A-2-Checklist-for-Overnight-Facilities (01-06-17)
Appendix B – Local Management Plan Approval Form
Appendix C – NPS-APPA Compendium of Orders (2019)
Appendix D – ATC Trail Management Policies
Cooperative Agreement between NPS and ATC (2014)
Appendix F Trail Club – ATC MOUs
Appendix F – New England Trail Club-New England Region Club-ATC MOUs
Appendix F – Mid-Atlantic Region Trail Club-ATC MOUs
Appendix F – Virginia Region Trail Club-ATC MOUs
Appendix F – South Region Trail Club-ATC MOUs
Appendix G Table of Statewide MOUs (Updated 2014)
Appendix G – Statewide MOUs
2009 MOU for the ANST in New Hampshire
2003 MOU for the ANST in Massachusetts
2006 MOU for the ANST in Pennsylvania
2010 MOU for the ANST in Virginia
2012 MOU for the ANST in Connecticut
2014 MOU for the ANST in New York
Appendix H – O
Appendix H – Trail Assessment and Planning Documents
Appendix I – Accessible Facilities Guidelines and Drawings
Optimal Location Review Process
Optimal Location Review Process
OLR Documentation form
Appendix J – Locating and Designing Overnight Sites
Appendix K – Volunteer Protection
Appendix L – Project Logistics Form
Appendix M – Incident Reporting Guidelines
Appendix N – ATC Trail Management Sign Catalogue
Appendix O – Designated Wilderness Areas