Overview

Title

To adjust the boundary of Big Bend National Park in the State of Texas, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H. R. 2323 is a plan to make Big Bend National Park in Texas a bit bigger by adding extra land, which can only be done if the landowners want to give it away or trade it. The map showing where the new park lines will be can be seen by everyone.

Summary AI

H. R. 2323 is a bill that proposes changes to the boundary of Big Bend National Park in Texas. It allows the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately 6,100 acres of land to include in the park, either by donation or exchange, but not through eminent domain or condemnation. The new land will officially become part of the park and be managed according to existing park laws. The bill also ensures that the map detailing these changes will be publicly available.

Published

2025-03-25
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-03-25
Package ID: BILLS-119hr2323ih

Keywords AI

big bend national park boundary adjustment land acquisition secretary of the interior texas public inspection eminent domain land donation map accessibility environmental impact

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
3
Words:
401
Pages:
3
Sentences:
17

Language

Nouns: 135
Verbs: 25
Adjectives: 11
Adverbs: 2
Numbers: 21
Entities: 37

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.07
Average Sentence Length:
23.59
Token Entropy:
4.57
Readability (ARI):
12.82

AnalysisAI

Editorial Commentary on H.R. 2323: Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act

General Summary of the Bill

The "Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act," introduced in the House of Representatives, aims to modify the boundary of Big Bend National Park located in Texas. The proposed adjustment involves acquiring approximately 6,100 acres of land that will be incorporated into the park. The land expansion serves to enhance the park's ecological and recreational offerings. The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for executing the land acquisition, which can be achieved through donation or exchange, though the use of eminent domain or condemnation is prohibited.

Summary of Significant Issues

Several significant issues arise from the draft of this bill:

  1. Voluntary Acquisition Concerns: The exclusion of eminent domain may lead to difficulties in acquiring the necessary land if agreements cannot be reached with landowners, potentially stalling the boundary adjustment process.

  2. Lack of Financial Clarity: The bill's text does not discuss the financial implications of acquiring these lands, nor does it specify changes in jurisdiction, raising concerns regarding transparency and financial accountability.

  3. Absence of a Timeline: There is no specified timeline for the completion of the land acquisition and boundary adjustment, which could result in prolonged delays and indefinite project timelines.

  4. Public Access to Information: While the bill mentions the availability of a map outlining the proposed boundary adjustments, it does not detail how the public can access these visuals online, potentially limiting transparency for individuals unable to physically view the documents.

  5. Stakeholder Impact: The bill lacks detail on how various stakeholders, including local communities, environmental agencies, and businesses, might be affected, which could lead to potential oversight of critical impacts.

Broad Public Impact

Overall, the boundary adjustment aims to enhance environmental conservation efforts and increase recreational opportunities at Big Bend National Park. This could positively impact public visitors by providing an expanded and potentially more diverse park experience. Enhanced preservation of local ecosystems may benefit biodiversity, supporting broader environmental goals nationally.

However, the absence of a clear timeline and financial transparency could cause public concern about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the project. If delays occur due to unclear guidelines or disputes, it could diminish public trust in the process.

Impacts on Specific Stakeholders

Local Communities and Landowners: The prohibition on eminent domain empowers landowners by preserving their rights, allowing for a completely voluntary acquisition process. However, without the power of compulsory purchase, there may be hesitation among landowners to participate, which could stall project implementation.

Environmental Groups: These stakeholders might view boundary expansion positively as it potentially contributes to greater conservation and habitat protection. However, inadequate details around management practices for newly acquired lands could trigger concerns about potential misalignment with conservation priorities.

Business Interests and Tourism: Expanding park boundaries could bolster local tourism, generating economic benefits for surrounding communities. Conversely, if boundary adjustments restrict existing land uses beneficial to local businesses, there might be resistance or economic concerns raised by those stakeholders.

In conclusion, the Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act carries potential benefits for environmental preservation and recreational enhancement. However, its successful implementation requires resolving issues related to land acquisition, stakeholder engagement, and transparent governance to ensure broad public and stakeholder support.

Issues

  • The bill does not address potential challenges or disputes with landowners regarding voluntary acquisition given that the use of eminent domain or condemnation is prohibited. This omission could lead to significant legal and administrative challenges (Section 3(d)).

  • The definitions section does not clarify the financial implications or changes in jurisdiction resulting from the boundary adjustment to Big Bend National Park. This lack of clarity could lead to misunderstandings about the scope and impact of the bill (Section 2).

  • There is a lack of specificity regarding how fair valuation will be determined for land acquisition through donation or exchange, which may lead to financial transparency and accountability issues (Section 3(a)).

  • The bill lacks a defined timeline or deadline for the land acquisition and boundary revision process, potentially leading to indefinite postponement and delayed implementation (Section 3).

  • The provision to have the map available for public inspection lacks details about online accessibility, which potentially limits public access to necessary information, especially for those unable to visit in person (Section 3(b)).

  • The definitions lack specificity about the entities or stakeholders that might be affected by the boundary adjustment, potentially overlooking important environmental, local, or commercial interests (Section 2).

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the act specifies its short title, stating that it may be referred to as the "Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act."

2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The definitions section of this act clarifies that "map" refers to a specific map of Big Bend National Park for proposed boundary adjustments, "Park" refers to the Big Bend National Park itself as established in 1935, and "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.

3. Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The Secretary is allowed to acquire around 6,100 acres of land to adjust the boundary of Big Bend National Park either by donation or exchange. Once any land is acquired, it will be added to the park, but eminent domain cannot be used to obtain this land.