I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8031 

To establish the Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree 

National Park in the State of California, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 16, 2024 

Mr. RUIZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish the Chuckwalla National Monument and expand 

Joshua Tree National Park in the State of California, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Chuckwalla National 

5 Monument Establishment and Joshua Tree National Park 

6 Expansion Act of 2024’’. 

7 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

8 Congress finds that— 

9 (1) the land designated as the Chuckwalla Na10 tional Monument by this Act— 


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1 (A) is an area of national significance and 

2 historical and scientific interest requiring pro3 tection; 

4 (B)(i) is the ancestral homeland of the 

5 Iviatim, Kwatsa ́an, Maara’yam, Nu ̈wu ̈, Pipa 

6 Aha Macav, and other Tribal people, including 

7 the present-day Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mohave, 

8 Quechan, and Serrano Indian Tribes; 

9 (ii) continues to be regularly accessed and 

10 used by the Indian Tribes referred to in clause 

11 (i); and 

12 (iii) will continue to be used by the Indian 

13 Tribes referred to in clause (i) in the future; 

14 (C) contains a complex trail system that— 

15 (i) was established by Native Ameri16 cans for various uses, including spiritual, 

17 travel, trade, and communication; and 

18 (ii) connects to regions outside of the 

19 boundaries of the Monument, including Avi 

20 Kwa Ame; 

21 (D) includes sacred sites, historic prop22 erties, traditional cultural places and land23 scapes, sacred items, objects of cultural pat24 rimony, human remains, religious sites, 

25 geoglyphs, petroglyphs, and pictographs with 


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1 significant value to the survival and well-being 

2 of Tribal people and the knowledge systems of 

3 Tribal people; 

4 (E) includes plants, wildlife, water sources, 

5 and minerals that are connected together as 

6 part of a greater cultural landscape; 

7 (F) has nationally significant biodiversity, 

8 due to the location in the transitional zone 

9 where the Sonoran Desert and Mojave Desert 

10 come together; 

11 (G) is home to a wide variety of topog12 raphy and elevation, leading to distinct micro13 climates and ecosystems; 

14 (H) is largely intact, undeveloped, and ad15 jacent to other federally protected areas, such 

16 as Joshua Tree National Park, the Indian Pass 

17 Wilderness, and the Palen/McCoy Wilderness; 

18 (I) is a refuge for over 150 plant species, 

19 many of which cannot be found anywhere else, 

20 including— 

21 (i) Munz’s cholla, the largest endemic 

22 cacti in the State, which is located on the 

23 Chuckwalla Bench; 

24 (ii) the California fan palm, a plant 

25 managed and used extensively by Tribal 


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1 people for thousands of years, which is 

2 found in oases at Corn Springs, the Mecca 

3 Hills Wilderness, and other locations in 

4 which tectonic movements allow ground5 water to seep up; 

6 (iii) the triple-ribbed milk-vetch, which 

7 is listed as endangered under the Endan8 gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 

9 1531 et seq.); and 

10 (iv) other sensitive species, including 

11 Emory’s crucifixion thorn and Mecca-aster; 

12 (J) hosts— 

13 (i) some of the most extensive 

14 microphyll woodlands (which are small-leaf 

15 trees, such as ironwood and palo verde) in 

16 the State in places such as Milpitas Wash, 

17 a habitat critical to the survival of Tribal 

18 people; and 

19 (ii) many wildlife species, including 

20 the burro deer and migrating birds; 

21 (K) offers— 

22 (i) core habitat and essential migra23 tion pathways for wildlife, including over 

24 50 sensitive animal species, including— 


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1 (I) critical habitat for the 

2 Agassiz’s desert tortoise, which is list3 ed as threatened under the Endan4 gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 

5 1531 et seq.); and 

6 (II) critical habitat for the desert 

7 bighorn sheep, which is an iconic spe8 cies with declining numbers; 

9 (ii) habitat in microphyll woodlands 

10 for large numbers of resident and migra11 tory birds, which is crucial amid the other12 wise major decline in bird numbers re13 corded in North America over the 50-year 

14 period preceding the date of enactment of 

15 this Act; and 

16 (iii) former habitat for the endangered 

17 Sonoran pronghorn in the Chuckwalla 

18 Bench, the site of a multi-year reintroduc19 tion effort that is already underway; 

20 (L) offers important glimpses into key pe21 riods in regional history, such as— 

22 (i) the gold seekers who used an exist23 ing Indigenous route to establish what is 

24 now the Bradshaw Trail in the 1870s; and 


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1 (ii) the invaluable training of more 

2 than 1,000,000 soldiers from across the 

3 United States during the period from 

4 1942–1944 in which the land was part of 

5 the Desert Training Center, which is also 

6 known as the ‘‘California-Arizona Maneu7 ver Area’’, including Patton’s Hill, which 

8 was used by General Patton for observing 

9 training maneuvers; 

10 (M) provides outstanding outdoor recre11 ation opportunities to local communities and 

12 visitors, including hiking, horseback riding, mo13 torized vehicle use and mountain biking on des14 ignated routes of travel, wildlife viewing, hunt15 ing, climbing, rockhounding, picnicking, and 

16 camping; 

17 (N) offers inexpensive access to public land 

18 for disadvantaged communities, including the 

19 farming and farm laboring communities of the 

20 eastern Coachella Valley and Blythe regions; 

21 and 

22 (O) is near or adjacent to solar Develop23 ment Focus Areas that have some of the best 

24 solar energy potential in the world, the develop25 ment and operation of which is critical to meetVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:38 Apr 25, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8031.IH H8031

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1 ing the urgent need of the United States to de2 crease greenhouse gas emissions; and 

3 (2) the Indian Tribes referred to in paragraph 

4 (1)(B)(i) have a longstanding relationship to the 

5 land on which the Monument is located, acting as 

6 stewards of the land since time immemorial, with ob7 ligations to care for the cultural, spiritual, and nat8 ural resources provided to those Indian Tribes by 

9 the land, including sacred places, plants, wildlife, 

10 water sources, and minerals. 

11 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

12 In this Act: 

13 (1) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Advisory 

14 Council’’ means the Chuckwalla National Monument 

15 Advisory Council established under section 6(a). 

16 (2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

17 means the Chuckwalla National Monument Tribal 

18 Commission established under section 5(a). 

19 (3) CULTURALLY AFFILIATED INDIAN TRIBE.— 

20 The term ‘‘culturally affiliated Indian Tribe’’ means 

21 an Indian Tribe that is determined by the Secretary 

22 to have a cultural connection to the Monument. 

23 (4) DESERT RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSERVA24 TION AREA PLAN.—The term ‘‘Desert Renewable 

25 Energy Conservation Area Plan’’ means the Record 


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1 of Decision for the Desert Renewable Energy Con2 servation Plan Land Use Plan Amendment to the 

3 California Desert Conservation Area Plan, Bishop 

4 Resource Management Plan, and Bakersfield Re5 source Management Plan by the Bureau of Land 

6 Management, dated September 2016. 

7 (5) DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AREA.—The term 

8 ‘‘Development Focus Area’’ means a Development 

9 Focus Area designated in the Desert Renewable En10 ergy Conservation Area Plan / Land Use Plan 

11 Amendment to the California Desert Conservation 

12 Area Plan, Bishop Resource Management Plan, and 

13 Bakersfield Resource Management Plan prepared by 

14 the Bureau of Land Management and dated Sep15 tember 2016. 

16 (6) ELECTRIC UTILITY FACILITY.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘electric util18 ity facility’’ means any infrastructure associated 

19 with or necessary for the siting, construction, or 

20 operation and maintenance of electric trans21 mission or distribution lines. 

22 (B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘electric util23 ity facility’’ includes an electric substation, a 

24 communication facility, a tower, a pole, a line, 


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1 a ground wire, a communications circuit, and 

2 any other similar or related infrastructure. 

3 (7) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

4 means the governing body of any Indian Tribe, 

5 band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component 

6 band, or component reservation individually identi7 fied (including parenthetically) on the most recent 

8 list published by the Secretary under section 104(a) 

9 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 

10 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131(a)). 

11 (8) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage12 ment plan’’ means the management plan for the 

13 Monument developed under section 4(c)(17). 

14 (9) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en15 titled ‘‘Proposed Chuckwalla National Monument 

16 and Joshua Tree National Park Expansion’’ and 

17 dated April 12, 2024. 

18 (10) MONUMENT.—The term ‘‘Monument’’ 

19 means the Chuckwalla National Monument estab20 lished by section 4(a). 

21 (11) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

22 means the Secretary of the Interior. 

23 (12) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the 

24 State of California. 


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1 SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF CHUCKWALLA NATIONAL MONU2 MENT. 

3 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to valid existing 

4 rights, there is established the Chuckwalla National Monu5 ment in the State, consisting of approximately 621,000 

6 acres of Federal land administered by the Bureau of Land 

7 Management, as generally depicted on the Map. 

8 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Monument is to 

9 conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoy10 ment of present and future generations, through coopera11 tive and collaborative management with culturally affili12 ated Indian Tribes, the ecological, scenic, wildlife, rec13 reational, cultural, historical, natural, educational, and 

14 scientific resources of the Monument. 

15 (c) MANAGEMENT.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary— 

17 (A) shall manage the Monument— 

18 (i) in a manner that conserves, pro19 tects, and enhances the resources of the 

20 Monument; 

21 (ii) in accordance with— 

22 (I) the Federal Land Policy and 

23 Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 

24 1701 et seq.); 

25 (II) this section; and 


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1 (III) any other applicable law (in2 cluding regulations); 

3 (iii) in cooperation and collaboration 

4 with culturally affiliated Indian Tribes; 

5 and 

6 (iv) as a component of the National 

7 Landscape Conservation System; and 

8 (B) shall only allow uses of the Monument 

9 that— 

10 (i) are described in or otherwise con11 sistent with this section; or 

12 (ii) in the determination of the Sec13 retary, would further the purpose described 

14 in subsection (b). 

15 (2) AGREEMENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS.—To the 

16 maximum extent practicable and in accordance with 

17 applicable laws, on request of a culturally affiliated 

18 Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall enter into agree19 ments, contracts, and other cooperative and collabo20 rative partnerships with the culturally affiliated In21 dian Tribe with respect to management of the 

22 Monument under relevant Federal authority, includ23 ing— 


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1 (A) the Indian Self-Determination and 

2 Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et 

3 seq.); 

4 (B) the Federal Land Policy and Manage5 ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); 

6 (C) Executive Order 13175 (25 U.S.C. 

7 5301 note; relating to consultation and coordi8 nation with Indian Tribal governments); 

9 (D) Secretarial Order 3342, issued by the 

10 Secretary on October 21, 2016 (relating to 

11 identifying opportunities for cooperative and 

12 collaborative partnerships with Federally recog13 nized Indian Tribes in the management of Fed14 eral lands and resources); and 

15 (E) Joint Secretarial Order 3403, issued 

16 by the Secretary and the Secretary of Agri17 culture on November 15, 2021 (relating to ful18 filling the trust responsibility to Indian Tribes 

19 in the stewardship of Federal lands and 

20 waters). 

21 (3) NATIVE AMERICAN ACCESS AND USE.— 

22 (A) ACCESS.—The Secretary shall ensure 

23 access to the Monument by members of a cul24 turally affiliated Indian Tribe for traditional 

25 cultural purposes and activities. 


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1 (B) TEMPORARY CLOSURE.—In carrying 

2 out this paragraph, the Secretary, on the re3 quest of a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe, 

4 may temporarily close to the general public use 

5 of 1 or more specific portions of the Monument 

6 to protect the privacy of traditional cultural ac7 tivities in the temporarily closed portion by 

8 members of the culturally affiliated Indian 

9 Tribe. 

10 (C) APPLICABLE LAW.—The access and 

11 use by members of a culturally affiliated Indian 

12 Tribe under this paragraph shall be consistent 

13 with the purpose and intent of Public Law 95– 

14 341 (commonly known as the ‘‘American Indian 

15 Religious Freedom Act’’) (42 U.S.C. 1996 et 

16 seq.). 

17 (4) RECREATION.—The Secretary shall con18 tinue to authorize and enhance recreation in the 

19 Monument, including camping, hiking, backpacking, 

20 sightseeing, nature study, horseback riding, hunting, 

21 hang gliding, climbing, mountain biking and motor22 ized recreation on authorized routes, and the non23 commercial collecting of rocks, minerals, and semi24 precious gemstones, if the recreational use is con25 sistent with— 


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1 (A) the purpose described in subsection 

2 (b); 

3 (B) this section; 

4 (C) other applicable law (including regula5 tions); 

6 (D) applicable management plans; and 

7 (E) input from the Commission regarding 

8 potential impacts to culturally sensitive sites 

9 and resources. 

10 (5) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.— 

11 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

12 subparagraph (B), the use of motorized vehicles 

13 within the Monument shall be permitted only on 

14 routes designated for the use of motorized vehi15 cles by the transportation management plan 

16 prepared under paragraph (17)(D). 

17 (B) EXCEPTIONS.—Notwithstanding sub18 paragraph (A), the use of motorized vehicles 

19 within the Monument may be permitted if the 

20 use is necessary— 

21 (i) for administrative purposes; and 

22 (ii) for constructing or servicing, con23 sistent with paragraphs (1) and (7)— 


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1 (I) electric utility facilities (in2 cluding electric transmission facilities 

3 and electric distribution facilities); or 

4 (II) renewable energy projects 

5 near or adjacent to the Monument; or 

6 (iii) to respond to an emergency. 

7 (C) INTERIM MANAGEMENT.— 

8 (i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 

9 in clause (ii), until the date on which the 

10 transportation management plan required 

11 under paragraph (17)(D) is completed, the 

12 use of motorized vehicles in the Monument 

13 shall be permitted only on— 

14 (I) the routes that are legally 

15 designated for such use on the date of 

16 enactment of this Act; and 

17 (II) any routes necessary for a 

18 purpose described in subparagraph 

19 (B), including the purposes described 

20 in clause (ii) of that subparagraph, 

21 subject to the requirements of that 

22 subparagraph. 

23 (ii) LIMITATION.—Nothing in clause 

24 (i) prevents the Secretary from closing 


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1 roads, trails, or areas to motorized vehi2 cles— 

3 (I) to protect natural or cultural 

4 resources; or 

5 (II) for public safety. 

6 (6) GRAZING.—The Secretary shall not estab7 lish any new allotments for livestock grazing that in8 clude any Monument land (whether leased or not 

9 leased for grazing on the date of enactment of this 

10 Act). 

11 (7) EXISTING EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS-OF12 WAY.— 

13 (A) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act pre14 cludes the renewal, assignment, or enlargement 

15 of, or interferes with the operation, mainte16 nance, replacement, modification, upgrade, or 

17 access to, existing— 

18 (i) flood control facilities, electric util19 ity facilities (including electric trans20 mission facilities and electric distribution 

21 facilities), pipeline facilities, and tele22 communications facilities within the Monu23 ment; 

24 (ii) roads or highway corridors within 

25 the Monument; 


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1 (iii) seismic monitoring facilities with2 in the Monument; or 

3 (iv) other water infrastructure, includ4 ing wildlife water developments or water 

5 district facilities, within or adjacent to an 

6 existing authorization boundary of the 

7 Monument. 

8 (B) EXPANSION OF EXISTING FACILITIES; 

9 NEW FACILITIES.—To the extent consistent 

10 with the proper care and management of ob11 jects of historical and scientific interest at the 

12 Monument and subject to the authorities of the 

13 Secretary and other applicable law— 

14 (i) existing flood control facilities, 

15 electric utility facilities (including electric 

16 transmission facilities and electric distribu17 tion facilities), pipeline facilities, tele18 communications facilities, and seismic 

19 monitoring facilities and other water infra20 structure, including wildlife water develop21 ments or water district facilities, may be 

22 expanded within the Monument; and 

23 (ii) new flood control facilities, electric 

24 utility facilities (including electric trans25 mission facilities and electric distribution 


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1 facilities), pipeline facilities, and tele2 communications facilities are permitted 

3 within the Monument. 

4 (8) ACQUISITION OF VALID EXISTING

5 RIGHTS.—The Secretary may acquire through ex6 change, donation, or purchase from a willing seller 

7 valid mining claims or other valid existing rights 

8 within the Monument that the Secretary determines, 

9 after consultation with the Commission or a cul10 turally affiliated Indian Tribe, threatens cultural re11 sources within the Monument. 

12 (9) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing 

13 rights, all Federal land located in the Monument is 

14 withdrawn from— 

15 (A) all forms of entry, appropriation, and 

16 disposal under the public land laws; 

17 (B) location, entry, and patent under the 

18 mining laws; and 

19 (C) operation of the mineral leasing, min20 eral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

21 (10) ADJACENT MANAGEMENT.— 

22 (A) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act 

23 creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone 

24 around the Monument. 


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1 (B) ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE MONU2 MENT.— 

3 (i) IN GENERAL.—The fact that an 

4 activity or use on land outside the Monu5 ment can be seen or heard within the 

6 Monument shall not preclude the activity 

7 or use outside the boundary of the Monu8 ment. 

9 (ii) DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AREAS.— 

10 The development and operation of renew11 able energy facilities, related energy stor12 age facilities, and associated infrastruc13 ture, including electric utility facilities (in14 cluding electric transmission facilities and 

15 electric distribution facilities), in Develop16 ment Focus Areas near or adjacent to the 

17 Monument shall not be affected by the es18 tablishment or management of the Monu19 ment. 

20 (C) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this 

21 section affects renewable energy development 

22 (including related energy storage or electric 

23 utility facilities, including electric transmission 

24 facilities and electric distribution facilities) on 

25 any land near or adjacent to the Monument. 


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1 (11) MILITARY ACTIVITIES.—Nothing in this 

2 Act precludes— 

3 (A) low-level overflights of military aircraft 

4 over the Monument; 

5 (B) the landing and takeoff of military air6 craft in designated landing zones in accordance 

7 with all aviation safety regulations; 

8 (C) the designation of new units of special 

9 airspace over the Monument; 

10 (D) the use or establishment of military 

11 flight training routes over the Monument; or 

12 (E) the use of Federal land within the 

13 Monument for off-road or off-trail training pur14 suant to agreements between the Secretary and 

15 the Secretary of Defense. 

16 (12) TREATY RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act al17 ters, modifies, enlarges, diminishes, or abrogates the 

18 treaty rights of any Indian Tribe, including off-res19 ervation reserved rights. 

20 (13) JURISDICTION OVER FISH AND WILD21 LIFE.— 

22 (A) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section 

23 diminishes the jurisdiction of the State with re24 spect to fish and wildlife management, includVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:38 Apr 25, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8031.IH H8031

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1 ing the regulation of fishing and hunting within 

2 the Monument. 

3 (B) LIMITATIONS.— 

4 (i) REGULATIONS.—Subject to clause 

5 (ii), the Secretary may designate by regu6 lation areas in which, and establish periods 

7 during which, for reasons of public safety, 

8 administration, or compliance with applica9 ble laws, no hunting, fishing, or trapping 

10 will be permitted in the Monument. 

11 (ii) CONSULTATION.—Except in emer12 gencies, the Secretary shall consult with 

13 the appropriate State agency before pro14 mulgating regulations under clause (i) that 

15 close a portion of the Monument to hunt16 ing, fishing, or trapping. 

17 (C) FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

18 ACTIVITIES.—Management activities (including 

19 the use of motorized vehicles by appropriate 

20 State agencies, subject to applicable laws (in21 cluding regulations) to maintain, enhance, or 

22 restore fish and wildlife populations and the 

23 habitats to support fish and wildlife populations 

24 may be carried out within the Monument. 


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1 (14) WILDLIFE WATER DEVELOPMENT

2 PROJECTS.—In accordance with applicable law (in3 cluding regulations), the Secretary may authorize 

4 structures and facilities, including maintenance of 

5 existing structures and facilities, for wildlife water 

6 development projects, including guzzlers, in the 

7 Monument, if— 

8 (A) the structures and facilities are nec9 essary to fulfill the purpose described in sub10 section (b); 

11 (B) the structures and facilities would, as 

12 determined by the Secretary, promote healthy, 

13 viable, and more naturally distributed wildlife 

14 populations; and 

15 (C) the visual impacts of the structures 

16 and facilities on the Monument can reasonably 

17 be minimized. 

18 (15) MAP; LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 

19 (A) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable 

20 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec21 retary shall submit to the Committee on Energy 

22 and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 

23 Committee on Natural Resources of the House 

24 of Representatives a map and legal description 

25 of the Monument. 


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1 (B) CORRECTIONS.—The map and legal 

2 description submitted under subparagraph (A) 

3 shall have the same force and effect as if in4 cluded in this Act, except that the Secretary 

5 may correct any clerical or typographical errors 

6 in the legal description and the map, including 

7 to ensure that there is no overlap between the 

8 Monument and Development Focus Areas. 

9 (C) CONFLICT BETWEEN MAP AND LEGAL

10 DESCRIPTION.—In the case of a conflict be11 tween the map and the legal description sub12 mitted under subparagraph (A), the map shall 

13 control. 

14 (D) AVAILABILITY OF MAP AND LEGAL DE15 SCRIPTION.—Copies of the map and legal de16 scription submitted under subparagraph (A) 

17 shall be on file and available for public inspec18 tion in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of 

19 Land Management. 

20 (16) NEW RIGHTS-OF-WAY.—Nothing in this 

21 Act prevents the Secretary from approving new 

22 rights-of-way within the Monument that the Sec23 retary determines, in consultation with applicable 

24 State and local agencies and culturally affiliated In25 dian Tribes, are consistent with— 


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1 (A) this Act; 

2 (B) applicable laws (including regulations); 

3 (C) the Desert Renewable Energy Con4 servation Area Plan; 

5 (D) the purpose described in subsection 

6 (b); 

7 (E) the management plan; and 

8 (F) the care and proper management of 

9 objects of historical and scientific interest with10 in the Monument. 

11 (17) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years 

13 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec14 retary shall develop a comprehensive plan for 

15 the long-term management of the Monument. 

16 (B) CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—The Sec17 retary shall— 

18 (i) in developing the management 

19 plan, consult with— 

20 (I) culturally affiliated Indian 

21 Tribes; 

22 (II) appropriate State and local 

23 governmental entities; 

24 (III) the Advisory Council; 

25 (IV) members of the public; and 


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1 (V) affected renewable energy de2 velopers and local electric utility com3 panies; and 

4 (ii) in making management decisions 

5 relating to the Monument, consult with 

6 culturally affiliated Indian Tribes. 

7 (C) REQUIREMENTS.—The management 

8 plan— 

9 (i) shall— 

10 (I) assess opportunities to im11 prove recreational opportunities with12 in, and access to, the Monument in a 

13 manner that— 

14 (aa) conserves, protects, and 

15 enhances resources of the Monu16 ment resources; and 

17 (bb) furthers the purpose 

18 described in subsection (b); 

19 (II) incorporate traditional eco20 logical knowledge; and 

21 (III) identify opportunities to in22 terpret Monument resources for mem23 bers of the public; and 

24 (ii) shall not— 


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1 (I) impact renewable energy 

2 projects in Development Focus Areas 

3 near or adjacent to the Monument; or 

4 (II) interfere with the develop5 ment of renewable energy (including 

6 related energy storage facilities or 

7 electric utility facilities, including elec8 tric transmission facilities and electric 

9 distribution facilities) or colocated 

10 telecommunications facilities on land 

11 near or adjacent to the Monument. 

12 (D) TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13 PLAN.—For the purposes of protecting and re14 storing objects of historical and scientific inter15 est within the Monument, as part of the man16 agement plan, the Secretary shall include a 

17 transportation plan that— 

18 (i) designates the routes and trails on 

19 which motorized vehicle use and non20 motorized mechanized vehicle use will be 

21 allowed within the Monument; 

22 (ii) provides that— 

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1 cluding appropriate wildlife manage2 ment, motorized vehicle use in the 

3 Monument shall be permitted only on 

4 routes and trails existing as of the 

5 date of enactment of this Act; 

6 (II) notwithstanding subclause 

7 (I), the Secretary may designate addi8 tional routes or trails for motorized 

9 vehicle use in the Monument after the 

10 date of enactment of this Act for the 

11 purposes of public safety needs, access 

12 to existing or new electric utility fa13 cilities or infrastructure, or protection 

14 of objects of historical and scientific 

15 interest within the Monument; and 

16 (III) the Secretary shall monitor 

17 motorized and non-motorized vehicle 

18 use and designated roads and trails to 

19 ensure proper care and management 

20 of objects of historical and scientific 

21 interest within the Monument. 

22 (E) INCORPORATION OF PLANS.—In devel23 oping the management plan, to the extent con24 sistent with this section, the Secretary may inVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:38 Apr 25, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8031.IH H8031

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1 corporate any provision of an applicable land 

2 and resource management plan. 

3 (F) EFFECT.—If there is a conflict be4 tween this section and the Desert Renewable 

5 Energy Conservation Area Plan, the more re6 strictive provision shall control. 

7 (18) WILDFIRE.—In accordance with this Act 

8 and applicable law (including regulations), the Sec9 retary may take any measures within the Monument 

10 that the Secretary determines to be necessary to 

11 control fire, insects, and diseases, including, as the 

12 Secretary determines to be appropriate, the coordi13 nation of the activities with a State or local agency. 

14 (19) INCORPORATION OF ACQUIRED LAND AND

15 INTERESTS.—Any land or interest in land within the 

16 boundary of the Monument that is acquired by the 

17 United States after the date of enactment of this 

18 Act shall— 

19 (A) become part of the Monument; 

20 (B) be withdrawn in accordance with para21 graph (9); and 

22 (C) be managed in accordance with— 

23 (i) the Federal Land Policy and Man24 agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 

25 seq.); 


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1 (ii) this section; and 

2 (iii) any other applicable law (includ3 ing regulations). 

4 SEC. 5. CHUCKWALLA NATIONAL MONUMENT TRIBAL COM5 MISSION. 

6 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

7 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es8 tablish a commission, to be known as the ‘‘Chuckwalla Na9 tional Monument Tribal Commission’’. 

10 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

11 (1) MAKEUP.—The Commission shall include a 

12 representative from each culturally affiliated Indian 

13 Tribe. 

14 (2) PROCESS.—The Secretary shall conduct 

15 government-to-government consultation with each 

16 culturally affiliated Indian Tribe to determine the 

17 membership of the Commission. 

18 (c) DUTIES.— 

19 (1) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.—The Com20 mission shall inform, and provide input to, the devel21 opment and implementation of the management 

22 plan. 

23 (2) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—The Sec24 retary shall— 

25 (A) consult with the Commission on— 


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1 (i) the development of the manage2 ment plan; and 

3 (ii) providing guidance and rec4 ommendations to the Secretary on manage5 ment decisions relating to the Monument; 

6 (B) ensure that the management plan sets 

7 forth parameters for the continued meaningful 

8 engagement by the Commission in the imple9 mentation of the management plan; and 

10 (C) incorporate into the management 

11 plan— 

12 (i) the traditional and historical 

13 knowledge and special expertise of the 

14 Commission; 

15 (ii) public education and interpreta16 tion for traditional place names and the 

17 cultural significance of land within the 

18 Monument, as the Secretary and the Com19 mission determine to be appropriate; and 

20 (iii) address funding, capacity build21 ing, and infrastructure for culturally affili22 ated Indian Tribes. 

23 (d) PROCEDURES.—The Commission shall establish 

24 any rules and procedures for the Commission that the 

25 Commission determines to be necessary. 


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1 SEC. 6. CHUCKWALLA NATIONAL MONUMENT ADVISORY 

2 COUNCIL. 

3 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

4 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es5 tablish an advisory council, to be known as the 

6 ‘‘Chuckwalla National Monument Advisory Council’’. 

7 (b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Council shall advise the 

8 Secretary with respect to the development of the manage9 ment plan. 

10 (c) APPLICABLE LAW.—The Advisory Council shall 

11 be subject to— 

12 (1) chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code 

13 (commonly known as the ‘‘Federal Advisory Com14 mittee Act’’); 

15 (2) the Federal Land Policy and Management 

16 Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and 

17 (3) any other applicable laws. 

18 (d) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Council shall con19 sist of 19 members, to be appointed by the Secretary, of 

20 whom, to the extent practicable— 

21 (1) 1 member shall be appointed after consid22 ering the recommendations of the Riverside County 

23 Board of Supervisors; 

24 (2) 1 member shall be appointed after consid25 ering the recommendations of the Imperial County 

26 Board of Supervisors; 


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1 (3) 1 member shall be appointed after consid2 ering the recommendations of the Secretary for Nat3 ural Resources of the State; 

4 (4) 1 member shall be appointed to represent 

5 the Department of Defense; and 

6 (5) 8 members shall— 

7 (A) reside in, or within reasonable prox8 imity to, Riverside or Imperial County in the 

9 State; and 

10 (B) have backgrounds that reflect— 

11 (i) the purpose described in section 

12 4(b); and 

13 (ii) the interests of persons affected 

14 by the planning and management of the 

15 Monument, including representatives of— 

16 (I) the renewable energy indus17 try; 

18 (II) electric utilities; 

19 (III) private land owners; 

20 (IV) nongovernmental organiza21 tions managing land for conservation 

22 purposes; and 

23 (V) environmental, recreational, 

24 tourism, or other non-Federal land in25 terests. 


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1 (e) REPRESENTATION.—The Secretary shall ensure 

2 that the membership of the Advisory Council is fairly bal3 anced in terms of— 

4 (1) the points of view represented by the Advi5 sory Council; and 

6 (2) the functions to be performed by the Advi7 sory Council. 

8 (f) TERMS.— 

9 (1) STAGGERED TERMS.—A member of the Ad10 visory Council shall be appointed for a term of 3 

11 years, except that, of the members first appointed— 

12 (A) 5 shall be appointed for a term of 1 

13 year; and 

14 (B) 5 shall be appointed for a term of 2 

15 years. 

16 (2) REAPPOINTMENT.—A member may be re17 appointed to serve on the Advisory Council on the 

18 expiration of the term of the member. 

19 (3) VACANCY.—A vacancy on the Advisory 

20 Council shall be filled in the same manner in which 

21 the original appointment was made. 

22 (g) QUORUM.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—8 members of the Advisory 

24 Council shall constitute a quorum. 


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1 (2) NO EFFECT ON OPERATIONS.—The oper2 ations of the Advisory Council shall not be impaired 

3 by the fact that a member has not yet been ap4 pointed if a quorum has been attained under para5 graph (1). 

6 (h) CHAIRPERSON AND PROCEDURES.—The Advisory 

7 Council shall— 

8 (1) elect a chairperson from among the mem9 bers of the Advisory Council; and 

10 (2) establish any rules and procedures for the 

11 Advisory Council that the Advisory Council deter12 mines to be necessary. 

13 (i) NO COMPENSATION.—A member of the Advisory 

14 Council shall serve without pay. 

15 (j) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Council shall ter16 minate on— 

17 (1) the date on which the management plan is 

18 officially adopted by the Secretary; or 

19 (2) such later date as the Secretary determines 

20 to be appropriate. 

21 SEC. 7. ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY AND CULTURAL RE22 SOURCES SURVEY. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

24 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary— 


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1 (1) after consultation with the culturally affili2 ated Indian Tribes, shall conduct, or enter into a 

3 contract with a third party to conduct, an ethno4 graphic study of land within the Monument and 

5 public land adjacent to the Monument that is not 

6 within a Development Focus Area to assess the im7 portance of the land studied to the culturally affili8 ated Indian Tribes and the religious, spiritual, and 

9 cultural practices of the culturally affiliated Indian 

10 Tribes; and 

11 (2) after consultation with the culturally affili12 ated Indian Tribes and a review of any applicable 

13 data, studies, and reports in the possession of the 

14 culturally affiliated Indian Tribes, shall conduct, or 

15 enter into a contract with a third party to conduct, 

16 a cultural resources survey of the land within the 

17 Monument and public land adjacent to the Monu18 ment that is not within a Development Focus Area 

19 to identify specific sites that contain cultural, reli20 gious, spiritual, and archaeological resources of im21 portance to the culturally affiliated Indian Tribes. 

22 (b) PARTICIPATION OF CULTURALLY AFFILIATED IN23 DIAN TRIBES.—In conducting an ethnographic study or 

24 cultural resources survey under subsection (a), the Sec25 retary shall coordinate with, and provide for the participaVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:00 Apr 27, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8031.IH H8031

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1 tion of, each culturally affiliated Indian Tribe, including 

2 through the conduct of interviews with members of each 

3 culturally affiliated Indian Tribe. 

4 (c) APPLICABLE LAW.—The Native American Graves 

5 Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) 

6 shall apply to burial sites identified under subsection (a). 

7 (d) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS TO CULTURALLY AF8 FILIATED INDIAN TRIBES.—Not later than 1 year after 

9 the date on which the ethnographic study and the cultural 

10 resources survey are completed under subsection (a), the 

11 Secretary shall submit to culturally affiliated Indian 

12 Tribes the results of the ethnographic study and the cul13 tural resources survey for review and comment. 

14 (e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

15 on which the ethnographic study and the cultural re16 sources survey are completed under subsection (a), the 

17 Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 

18 Congress a report describing the results of the ethno19 graphic study and the cultural resources survey completed 

20 under that subsection. 

21 (f) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para23 graph (2), information relating to the nature and 

24 specific location of a cultural resource located on 

25 land adjacent to the Monument that is obtained 


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1 from an ethnographic study or cultural resources 

2 survey conducted under subsection (a) shall be ex3 empt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, 

4 United States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Free5 dom of Information Act’’) and any other applicable 

6 law. 

7 (2) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding paragraph 

8 (1), the Secretary, in consultation with the culturally 

9 affiliated Indian Tribes, may disclose information 

10 described in that paragraph if the Secretary deter11 mines that the disclosure— 

12 (A) would— 

13 (i) further the protection of the cul14 tural resource; and 

15 (ii) be in accordance with other appli16 cable laws; and 

17 (B) would not create a risk of harm to, or 

18 theft or destruction of, the cultural resource or 

19 the site at which the cultural resource is lo20 cated. 

21 (g) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section, in22 cluding the ethnographic study or the cultural resources 

23 survey conducted under subsection (a), affects— 

24 (1) the development of renewable energy 

25 projects in a Development Focus Area; 


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1 (2) any requirements for that development that 

2 may be imposed based on the findings of any study 

3 required under other law prior to that development; 

4 (3) existing requirements for that development 

5 under section 306108 of title 54, United States 

6 Code (formerly section 106 of the National Historic 

7 Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f)) or any other ap8 plicable law; or 

9 (4) any existing responsibility of the Bureau of 

10 Land Management or any renewable energy com11 pany to conduct ethnographic studies prior to devel12 opment in a Development Focus Area. 

13 SEC. 8. EXPANSION OF JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK. 

14 Section 402 of the California Desert Protection Act 

15 of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 410aaa–22) is amended, in the first 

16 sentence, by inserting after ‘‘October 1991 or prior,’’ the 

17 following: ‘‘and including the approximately 17,842 acres 

18 of land depicted on the map entitled ‘Proposed Chuckwalla 

19 National Monument and Joshua Tree National Park Ex20 pansion’ and dated April 12, 2024,’’. 

Æ 


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