# PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED REGULATIONS: Mammoth Cave National Park; Bicycling and Horses

**Submitted by the Center for Federal Accountability (CFA)**  
**Document Number:** 2026-02510

## Executive Summary

The Center for Federal Accountability submits this draft comment to support timely public record participation while full model-backed legal analysis is queued. This draft identifies baseline accountability concerns and preserves key issues for agency consideration before the close of comments.

## Table of Authorities (to be finalized)

- Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.)
- Agency enabling statute and implementing regulations (rule-specific citations to be finalized)

## Key Concerns

- The agency should clearly identify statutory authority for each material requirement in the proposal.
- The agency should provide transparent cost, burden, and implementation assumptions with reproducible methodology.
- The agency should address foreseeable operational risks and unintended consequences for regulated parties and the public.

## Preliminary Analysis

This preliminary draft is generated from the available Federal Register text excerpt below and is intended to preserve issues for the rulemaking record. A full model-backed CFA legal analysis can be substituted in a subsequent revision.

> Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 26 (Monday, February 9, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2026)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 5700-5704] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] [FR Doc No: 2026-02510] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service 36 CFR Part 7 [NPS-MACA-DTS#0041023; PPSEMACAS0 PPMPSPD1Z.YM0000 255P103601] RIN 1024-AE93 Mammoth Cave National Park; Bicycling and Horses AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to amend the special regulations for Mammoth Cave National Park to allow bicycle use on approximately 37 miles of multi-use trails throughout the park. The proposed rule also would allow visitors to ride horses on the 5.4-mile Houchin Ferry North/Ollie Road. DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 10, 2026. ADDRESSES: Written Comments: You may submit comments by one of the following methods: (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov . In the Search box, enter 1024-AE93, the RIN for this rulemaking. On the resulting page, select the Dockets tab and then click on the title of the rule. Next, click the [[Page 5701]] ``Open for Comments'' box, then click the blue ``Comment'' box and follow the instructions for submitting comments. (2) By hard copy: Mail to: Superintendent, Mammoth Cave National Park, P.O. Box 7, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259. Document Availability: The ``Mammoth Cave National Park Comprehensive Land and River Trails Plan and Environmental Assessment'' and the ``Finding of No Significant Impact'' provide information and context for this proposed rule. Both documents are available online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/maca by clicking the link entitled ``Develop Land and River Trail Management Plan for Mammoth Cave National Park'' and then clicking the link entitled ``Document List.''…

## CFA Recommendations

1. Publish a clear crosswalk from each proposed requirement to its statutory basis.
2. Expand and disclose the quantitative assumptions used in cost-benefit analysis.
3. Provide implementation alternatives and phase-in options to reduce compliance risk.
4. Extend or reopen comment if substantial updates are made after publication.

## CFA Contact

Center for Federal Accountability (CFA)  
8401 Mayland Dr # 7387  
Richmond, VA 23294  
policy@federalaccountability.com | https://www.federalaccountability.com/

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_Generated via cursor provider fallback at 2026-03-23T20:59:54.316016+00:00._