White Sands National Park Establishment Act

Bill: 116-hr-1891
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Torres Small, Xochitl [D-NM-2]
Introduced: 2019-03-26
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers

Land use and conservation

Military facilities and property

Military procurement, research, weapons development

Monuments and memorials

New Mexico

Parks, recreation areas, trails
Latest action: action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-03-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>White Sands National Park Establishment Act</b></p> <p>This bill establishes the White Sands National Park in New Mexico as a unit of the National Park System in order to protect, preserve, and restore the park's resources and recreational values and to enhance visitor experiences. </p> <p>The bill abolishes the White Sands National Monument and incorporates the lands and interests that comprise the monument in and as a part of the park. </p> <p>The Department of the Interior shall not nominate the park for inclusion on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) unless each county in which the park is located concurs in the nomination. Before submitting such a nomination, Interior must notify the Department of the Army of its intention to nominate the park for inclusion on the list. </p> <p>Interior must complete an official boundary survey of the park. </p> <p>The bill modifies the boundaries of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and the Public Land Order 833 (relating to the withdrawal of certain public lands in New Mexico for use by the Army for military purposes and the revoking of certain executive orders and public land orders) to exclude the land transferred to Interior and to include the land transferred to the Army. The Army shall administer the land transferred to it as a part of the missile range. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1891 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 26, 2019 Ms. Torres Small of New Mexico (for herself, Ms. Haaland , and Mr. Luján ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish the White Sands National Park in the State of New Mexico as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the White Sands National Park Establishment 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. TITLE I—White Sands National Park Sec. 101. Findings. Sec. 102. Establishment of White Sands National Park. TITLE II—Modification of Boundaries of White Sands National Park and White Sands Missile Range Sec. 201. Transfers of administrative jurisdiction. Sec. 202. Boundary modifications. Sec. 203. Administration. 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Map The term Map means the map entitled White Sands National Park Proposed Boundary Revision & Transfer of Lands Between National Park Service & Department of the Army , numbered 142/136,271, and dated February 14, 2017. (2) Military munitions The term military munitions has the meaning given the term in section 101(e) of title 10, United States Code. (3) Missile range The term missile range means the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, administered by the Secretary of the Army. (4) Monument The term Monument means the White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, established by Presidential Proclamation No. 2025 ( 54 U.S.C. 320301 note), dated January 18, 1933, and administered by the Secretary. (5) Munitions debris The term munitions debris has the meaning given the term in volume 8 of the Department of Defense Manual Number 6055.09–M entitled DoD Ammunitions and Explosives Safety Standards and dated February 29, 2008 (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). (6) Park The term Park means the White Sands National Park established by section 102(a). (7) Public Land Order The term Public Land Order means Public Land Order 833, dated May 21, 1952 (17 Fed. Reg. 4822). (8) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (9) State The term State means the State of New Mexico. I White Sands National Park 101. Findings Congress finds that— (1) White Sands National Monument was established on January 18, 1933, by President Herbert Hoover under chapter 3203 of title 54, United States Code (commonly known as the Antiquities Act of 1906 ); (2) President Hoover proclaimed that the Monument was established for the preservation of the white sands and additional features of scenic, scientific, and educational interest ; (3) the Monument was expanded by Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Carter, and Clinton in 1934, 1942, 1953, 1978, and 1996, respectively; (4) the Monument contains a substantially more diverse set of nationally significant historical, archaeological, scientific, and natural resources than were known of at the time the Monument was established, including a number of recent discoveries; (5) the Monument is recognized as a major unit of the National Park System with extraordinary values enjoyed by more visitors each year since 1995 than any other unit in the State; (6) the Monument contributes significantly to the local economy by attracting tourists; and (7) designation of the Monument as a national park would increase public recognition of the diverse array of nationally significant resources at the Monument and visitation to the unit. 102. Establishment of White Sands National Park (a) Establishment To protect, preserve, and restore its scenic, scientific, educational, natural, geological, historical, cultural, archaeological, paleontological, hydrological, fish, wildlife, and recreational values and to enhance visitor experiences, there is established in the State the White Sands National Park as a unit of the National Park System. (b) Abolishment of White Sands National Monument (1) Abolishment Due to the establishment of the Park, the Monument is abolished. (2) Incorporation The land and interests in land that comprise the Monument are incorporated in, and shall be considered to be part of, the Park. (c) References Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the White Sands National Monument shall be considered to be a reference to the White Sands National Park . (d) Availability of Funds Any funds available for the Monument shall be available for the Park. (e) Administration The Secretary shall administer the Park in accordance with— (1) this title; and (2) the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including section 100101(a), chapter 1003, sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101, and chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code. (f) World Heritage List nomination (1) County concurrence The Secretary shall not submit a nomination for the Park to be included on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization unless each county in which the Park is located concurs in the nomination. (2) Army notification Before submitting a nomination for the Park to be included on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Secretary shall notify the Secretary of the Army of the intent of the Secretary to nominate the Park. (g) Effect Nothing in this section affects— (1) valid existing rights (including water rights); (2) permits or contracts issued by the Monument; (3) existing agreements, including agreements with the Department of Defense; (4) the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense regarding the restricted airspace above the Park; or (5) the airshed classification of the Park under the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). II Modification of boundaries of White Sands National Park and White Sands Missile Range 201. Transfers of administrative jurisdiction (a) Transfer of administrative jurisdiction to the Secretary (1) In general Administrative jurisdiction over the land described in paragraph (2) is transferred from the Secretary of the Army to the Secretary. (2) Description of land The land referred to in paragraph (1) is— (A) the approximately 2,826 acres of land identified as To NPS, lands inside current boundary on the Map; and (B) the approximately 5,766 acres of land identified as To NPS, new additions on the Map. (b) Transfer of administrative jurisdiction to the Secretary of the Army (1) In general Administrative jurisdiction over the land described in paragraph (2) is transferred from the Secretary to the Secretary of the Army. (2) Description of land The land referred to in paragraph (1) is the approximately 3,737 acres of land identified as To DOA on the Map. 202. Boundary modifications (a) Park (1) In general The boundary of the Park is revised to reflect the boundary depicted on the Map. (2) Map (A) In general The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army, shall prepare and keep on file for public inspection in the appropriate office of the Secretary a map and a legal description of the revised boundary of the Park. (B) Effect The map and legal description under subparagraph (A) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in the map and legal description. (3) Boundary survey As soon as practicable after the date of the establishment of the Park and subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary shall complete an official boundary survey of the Park. (b) Missile range (1) In general The boundary of the missile range and the Public Land Order are modified to exclude the land transferred to the Secretary under section 201(a) and to include the land transferred to the Secretary of the Army under section 201(b). (2) Map The Secretary shall prepare a map and legal description depicting the revised boundary of the missile range. (c) Conforming amendment Section 2854 of Public Law 104–201 ( 54 U.S.C. 320301 note) is repealed. 203. Administration (a) Park The Secretary shall administer the land transferred under section 201(a) in accordance with laws (including regulations) applicable to the Park. (b) Missile range Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of the Army shall administer the land transferred to the Secretary of the Army under section 201(b) as part of the missile range. (c) Infrastructure; resource management (1) Range Road 7 (A) Infrastructure management To the maximum extent practicable, in planning, constructing, and managing infrastructure on the land described in subparagraph (C), the Secretary of the Army shall apply low-impact development techniques and strategies to prevent impacts within the missile range and the Park from stormwater runoff from the land described in that subparagraph. (B) Resource management The Secretary of the Army shall— (i) manage the land described in subparagraph (C) in a manner consistent with the protection of natural and cultural resources within the missile range and the Park and in accordance with section 101(a)(1)(B) of the Sikes Act ( 16 U.S.C. 670a(a)(1)(B) ), division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ( 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.); and (ii) include the land described in subparagraph (C) in the integrated natural and cultural resource management plan for the missile range. (C) Description of land The land referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) is the land that is transferred to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army under section 201(b) and located in the area east of Range Road 7 in— (i) T. 17 S., R. 5 E., sec. 31; (ii) T. 18 S., R. 5 E.; and (iii) T. 19 S., R. 5 E., sec. 5. (2) Fence (A) In general The Secretary of the Army shall continue to allow the Secretary to maintain the fence shown on the Map until such time as the Secretary determines that the fence is unnecessary for the management of the Park. (B) Removal If the Secretary determines that the fence is unnecessary for the management of the Park under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall promptly remove the fence at the expense of the Department of the Interior. (d) Research The Secretary of the Army and the Secretary may enter into an agreement to allow the Secretary to conduct certain research in the area identified as Cooperative Use Research Area on the Map. (e) Military munitions and munitions debris (1) Response action With respect to any Federal liability, the Secretary of the Army shall remain responsible for any response action addressing military munitions or munitions debris on the land transferred under section 201(a) to the same extent as on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. (2) Investigation of military munitions and munitions debris (A) In general The Secretary may request that the Secretary of the Army conduct one or more investigations of military munitions or munitions debris on any land transferred under section 201(a). (B) Access The Secretary shall give access to the Secretary of the Army to the land covered by a request under subparagraph (A) for the purposes of conducting the one or more investigations under that subparagraph. (C) Limitation An investigation conducted under this paragraph shall be subject to available appropriations. (3) Applicable law Any activities undertaken under this subsection shall be carried out in accordance with— (A) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.); (B) the purposes for which the Park was established; and (C) any other applicable law.