I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2752 
To designate the Castner Range in the State of Texas, to establish the 
Castner Range National Monument, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 22, 2021 
Ms. ESCOBAR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Armed 
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To designate the Castner Range in the State of Texas, 
to establish the Castner Range National Monument, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Castner Range National Monument Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
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Sec. 3. Establishment of Castner Range National Monument, Texas. 
Sec. 4. Access and buffer zones. 
Sec. 5. Management of Federal lands within the National Monument. 
Sec. 6. Water. 
Sec. 7. Border security. 
Sec. 8. Department of Army responsibility and authority. 
Sec. 9. Castner Range National Monument Advisory Council. 
Sec. 10. Land conveyance, Castner Range, Fort Bliss, Texas. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘advisory 
council’’ means the Castner Range National Monu-
ment Advisory Council. 
(2) NATIONAL
MONUMENT.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Monument’’ means the Castner Range Na-
tional Monument. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Texas. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF CASTNER RANGE NATIONAL 
MONUMENT, TEXAS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to valid existing 
rights, there is hereby established the Castner Range Na-
tional Monument in the State. 
(b) AREA INCLUDED.—The National Monument con-
sists of Federal land and interests in Federal land within 
El Paso County, Texas, generally depicted as ‘‘Proposed 
Castner Range National Monument’’ on the map entitled 
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‘‘Proposed Castner Range National Monument’’ and dated 
April 19, 2021. 
(c) EXCLUSION OF NON-FEDERAL LAND.—The Na-
tional Monument shall include only Federal land and in-
terests in Federal land and shall not include or apply to 
private property or other non-Federal land and interests 
in land within the exterior boundaries of the National 
Monument. 
(d) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the National Monu-
ment is to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit 
and enjoyment of present and future generations the eco-
logical, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, 
natural, educational, and scientific resources of the lands 
included in the National Monument, including Castner 
Range and its— 
(1) relationship to the Department of the Army; 
(2) role as a water conservation sanctuary 
through a dozen natural canyons, arroyos (also 
known as gullies or washes) and alluvial fans which 
efficiently transport run-off from the heights 
through seepage into the large underground Hueco 
Bolso´n aquifer, which along with the West Side 
Mesilla Bolso´n supplies much of El Paso’s water; 
(3) historical significance, as it contains numer-
ous archaeological and historical resources that date 
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as far back as the Paleo-Indian, Archaic and historic 
Indian groups, lasted from about 8000 B.C. to 4000 
B.C. and was initially characterized by big-game 
hunting; 
(4) significance as a habitat for an extremely 
diverse aggregation of wildlife and plant species of 
special concern that are thought to inhabit Castner 
Range, including the sand prickly pear, the Texas 
lyre snake, and the western burrowing owl; and 
(5) significance as a one-of-a-kind vegetation 
region that includes a mountainous area, cactus 
lechuguilla region, and draw-yucca grassland region. 
SEC. 4. ACCESS AND BUFFER ZONES. 
(a) ACCESS.—The Secretary shall continue to provide 
historical and adequate access to private inholdings within 
the exterior boundaries of the National Monument. 
(b) BUFFER ZONES.—Nothing in this Act creates a 
protective perimeter or buffer zone around the National 
Monument. The fact that any activities or uses outside 
of areas designated by this Act can be seen or heard within 
the National Monument shall not preclude the activities 
or uses outside of the National Monument. 
(c) USE OF EASEMENTS.—Nothing in this Act shall 
affect easements located within the National Monument 
on the date of the enactment of this Act, including the 
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use of Trans Mountain Highway, the National Border Pa-
trol Museum, El Paso Museum of Archaeology, and the 
El Paso Water Utilities. 
SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL LANDS WITHIN THE NA-
TIONAL MONUMENT. 
(a) BASIS OF MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) APPLICABLE
LAWS.—The Secretary shall 
manage the National Monument in a manner that 
conserves, protects, and enhances the natural re-
sources and values of the National Monument, in ac-
cordance with— 
(A) this Act; 
(B) the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and 
(C) the Act of June 17, 1902 (commonly 
known as the Reclamation Act of 1902; 32 
Stat. 388), and Acts amendatory thereof and 
supplemental thereto. 
(2) RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS.—If there is a 
conflict between a provision of this Act and a provi-
sion of one of the other laws specified in paragraph 
(1), the more restrictive provision shall control. 
(b) TRIBAL CULTURAL USES.—Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed to enlarge or diminish the rights of any 
Indian Tribe. 
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(c) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop 
a comprehensive plan for the protection and man-
agement of the National Monument that fulfills the 
purposes specified in section 3. In implementing the 
management plan and in considering any rec-
ommendations from the advisory council, the Sec-
retary shall consult with the advisory council on a 
regular basis. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The management plan shall— 
(A) describe the appropriate uses and 
management of the National Monument; 
(B) identify short-term and long-term 
management actions and prioritize management 
actions based on projected availability of re-
sources; 
(C) include a habitat restoration opportu-
nities component; 
(D) include a recreational opportunity en-
hancement component; and 
(E) include a component that addresses 
the Secretary of Army’s remediation of haz-
ardous substances or munitions and explosives 
of concern within the National Monument. 
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(3) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND SPECIAL CON-
SIDERATIONS.—In developing the management plan, 
and to the extent consistent with this section, the 
Secretary— 
(A) shall solicit extensive public input; 
(B) shall take into consideration any infor-
mation developed in studies of the land within 
the National Monument; 
(C) shall assess available climate change 
information pertinent to the National Monu-
ment; 
(D) shall include standards and practices 
to ensure the preservation of wildlife corridors 
and facilitate species migration; and 
(E) may incorporate any provision from a 
resource management plan, land and resource 
management plan, or any other plan applicable 
to the National Monument. 
(d) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—In carrying out 
this Act, the Secretary may make grants to, or enter into 
cooperative agreements with, State, Tribal, and local gov-
ernmental entities and private entities to conduct re-
search, develop scientific analyses, and carry out any other 
initiative relating to the restoration or conservation of the 
National Monument. 
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(e) MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED VEHICLES.—Ex-
cept where needed for administrative purposes or to re-
spond to an emergency, the use of motorized and mecha-
nized vehicles on lands within the National Monument 
shall be allowed only on roads and trails designated for 
their use. 
(f) ACQUISITION
AND INCORPORATION
OF LANDS 
AND INTERESTS.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may acquire 
non-Federal land and interests in land within the ex-
terior boundaries of the National Monument only 
through exchange, donation, or purchase from a will-
ing seller. 
(2) MANAGEMENT.—Any land or interest in 
land that is located within the National Monument 
that is acquired by the United States shall— 
(A) become part of the National Monu-
ment; and 
(B) be managed in accordance with this 
Act. 
(g) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
all Federal land within the National Monument is with-
drawn from— 
(1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the 
public land laws; 
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