The bill designates the Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona as "Chiricahua National Park". It dictates the boundaries, funds availability, and administration, and ensures protection of traditional cultural and religious sites within the park, consulting with Indian Tribes. It allows access for traditional uses by Indian Tribe members and may temporarily close specific areas for traditional activities. The bill provides definitions for "Indian Tribe" and "Secretary". The impact of the bill will be the renaming, re-designation, and protection of the Chiricahua National Monument as the Chiricahua National Park, and the preservation and access rights for traditional cultural and religious sites within the park.
Chiricahua National Park Act
This bill redesignates the Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona as the Chiricahua National Park.
The bill directs the National Park Service (NPS) to (1) ensure the protection of traditional cultural and religious sites in the park, and (2) provide access to those sites by members of Indian tribes for traditional cultural and customary uses.
Upon the request of an Indian tribe, the NPS may temporarily close to general public use one or more specific areas of the park to protect traditional cultural and customary uses in the area by members of the tribe. The closure must be limited to the smallest practicable area for the minimum period necessary for the traditional cultural and religious activities.