Chiricahua National Park Act

The law preserves existing federal management and funding while adding requirements to protect Tribal cultural and religious sites and traditional access.

What the law does ​

• Renames Chiricahua National Monument as Chiricahua National Park.
• Keeps the monument’s existing boundaries unchanged.
• Transfers existing federal references and available funds to the national park.
• Requires management under existing proclamations and National Park System laws.
• Requires Tribal consultation to protect cultural and religious sites and access for traditional uses.
• Allows narrowly tailored temporary closures at a Tribe’s request to protect those uses.

Who it affects ​

• Indian Tribes and Tribal members with traditional ties to the park.
• Park visitors and federal park managers.

Breakdown ​

Chiricahua National Park Act ​

This law redesignates Arizona’s Chiricahua National Monument as Chiricahua National Park without changing its boundaries. It continues federal management and funding while requiring protection of Tribal cultural and religious sites and access for traditional uses.

Key takeaways

• The former Chiricahua National Monument is renamed Chiricahua National Park.
• The park retains the monument’s boundaries as they existed when the law was enacted.
• Existing federal references and available funds for the monument now apply to the national park.
• The Secretary of the Interior must manage the park under the existing proclamations and laws governing the National Park System.
• The Secretary must consult with Indian Tribes to protect traditional cultural and religious sites and provide Tribal members access for traditional cultural and customary uses.
• At a Tribe’s request, the Secretary may temporarily close the smallest practicable area for the minimum necessary time to protect those uses.