Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act (H.R. 6365)

Summary

The Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act is a bill that would require the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way for an emergency exit on certain National Park Service land in Virginia. The key provisions and impacts of the bill include:

Main Purpose and Intent

• Provide an emergency evacuation route for the Wintergreen Resort area, which is located within the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park.
• Address concerns about public safety and the ability to quickly evacuate the area in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Key Provisions

• Amends existing law to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way for a proposed emergency egress route, as depicted on a specific map.
• Conditions the issuance of the right-of-way on the completion of certain evaluations and analyses, including:
  • Evaluation of alternatives that do not cross federal land
  • Analysis of expected fire behavior and ecology in the event of an emergency
  • Completion of required environmental reviews

Affected Parties

• Residents, visitors, and businesses in the Wintergreen Resort area
• National Park Service and management of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on December 2, 2025 and has been referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
• The Subcommittee on Federal Lands has held hearings on the bill and discharged it from further consideration.
• The bill is currently awaiting further action by the full House committee.

Overall, the Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act is intended to enhance public safety and emergency preparedness for the Wintergreen Resort area by requiring the establishment of a dedicated emergency exit route through National Park Service land.