This bill changes the Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona to the Chiricahua National Park. The new park would use the same boundaries as the monument on the day the law becomes effective and the boundary is shown on a March 2021 map. Any reference to the monument in laws or documents would count as a reference to the park. Funds already available for the monument would be available for the park.
The Secretary of the Interior would run the park following the original presidential proclamations that created the monument and the laws that apply to units of the National Park System (certain sections of title 54 of the U.S. Code are named in the bill).
The bill requires the Secretary to protect traditional cultural and religious sites in the park and to consult with Indian Tribes when doing so. It directs the Secretary, under Public Law 95-341, to allow members of Indian Tribes access for traditional cultural and customary uses. At a tribe's request, the Secretary may temporarily close specific areas to the general public to protect those uses, but any closure must be limited to the smallest practicable area and the minimum time needed.
No publicly available information on estimated costs or new funding needs. The bill does state that any funds available for the Chiricahua National Monument would be available for the Chiricahua National Park.
Supporters, including the bill sponsors, seek to raise the site’s designation to a national park, keep current boundaries, ensure the site is managed under National Park Service laws and the original proclamations, and require protections and tribal consultation for traditional cultural and religious sites. The bill also formalizes tribal access and limited temporary closures to protect traditional uses.
No publicly available information.