S. 1582Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

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.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 5:26 AM UTC

The bill converts White Sands National Monument in New Mexico into White Sands National Park, making it part of the National Park System. It moves all monument lands and funding into the new park, puts the park under the Interior Secretary’s control, and sets rules for any future UNESCO World Heritage nomination. Existing rights, permits, and Department of Defense responsibilities remain unchanged.

Key Provisions

Creates White Sands National Park in New Mexico as a unit of the National Park System, replacing the existing White Sands National Monument.
Transfers all land and interests that made up the monument into the new park and treats any reference to the monument as a reference to the park.
Allows any funds that were available for the monument to be used for the park and places the park under the administration of the Secretary of the Interior, following standard national‑park laws.
Requires that each county where the park is located agree before the Secretary can nominate the park for UNESCO World Heritage status, and mandates notification to the Secretary of the Army before such a nomination.
Specifies that the change does not affect existing water rights, permits, contracts, Department of Defense agreements, restricted airspace, or the park’s Clean Air Act classification.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-308.

National Parks Subcommittee

June 19, 2019

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 21, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

May 21, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-308.

National Parks Subcommittee

June 19, 2019

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in SenateIssued May 21, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1582

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 21, 2019

Mr. Heinrich introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

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.

Establishment of White Sands National Park

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

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.

(2)

Park

The term Park means the White Sands National Park established by subsection (b).

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(b)

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 of New Mexico the White Sands National Park as a unit of the National Park System.

(c)

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.

(d)

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.

(e)

Availability of funds

Any funds available for the Monument shall be available for the Park.

(f)

Administration

The Secretary shall administer the Park in accordance with—

(1)

this section; 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.

(g)

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.

(h)

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.).