Overview
Title
To amend the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 to expand the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park.
ELI5 AI
S. 4227 is a plan to make Joshua Tree National Park bigger by adding more land to it, and the people in charge can get this land in different ways, like buying it or getting it as a gift. The plan will also fix a small mistake from a previous law, but the details about the new land and the mistake aren't very clear yet.
Summary AI
S. 4227 proposes changes to the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 to expand Joshua Tree National Park by approximately 20,149 acres. The expansion involves adjusting the park's boundaries to include land depicted on a specified map dated June 2024. The bill allows the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land for the expansion through methods like donation, purchase, exchange, or transfer, but any land owned by the State of California can only be acquired by donation or exchange. Additionally, the bill corrects a technical error in the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act regarding certain map numbering.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The bill, titled the "Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act of 2024," proposes amendments to the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 to expand the boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park. The expansion includes over 20,000 acres of land, with the intention to adjust park boundaries as shown on a map dated from June 2024. The bill moves administrative control of these lands to the National Park Service, potentially allowing further acquisition of lands within the new park boundaries through various methods like donation, purchase, or exchange. Additionally, the bill includes a technical correction related to the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.
Significant Issues
One pressing issue with the bill is the mention of a map dated April 29, 2024, which determines the specific land areas being added to Joshua Tree National Park. Since this map date is in the future relative to the bill's introduction, it raises questions about its availability and finalization. The absence of such an essential document in the text makes it challenging to accurately determine the specifics of the land addition.
Another issue is found in the technical correction, which lacks an explanation of purpose or impact. Without context, the alteration to the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act might be confusing for those who are unfamiliar with the original legal text.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, the expansion of Joshua Tree National Park is likely to be seen positively as it could enhance the conservation of the area’s unique desert ecosystem while providing more land for recreation and tourism. An expanded park could help preserve biodiversity, protect various species, and afford additional opportunities for public enjoyment and education about the environment.
However, changes in administrative jurisdiction and land acquisition methods detailed in the bill could entail bureaucratic adjustments and potential resource reallocation, which may influence both financial and operational aspects of the National Park Service and other local agencies. These processes could affect the efficiency with which the expansion goals are achieved.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Environmental Advocates and Conservationists: Likely to support the bill due to its aim of conserving further land within Joshua Tree National Park, protecting the environment, and preserving natural resources.
Local Communities and Businesses: They may face both positive and negative consequences. Increased park land may foster tourism and enhance local economies, while potential regulatory changes might pose additional compliance challenges for businesses within or near the expanded park boundaries.
State and Local Governments: The stipulation that lands owned by California or its political subdivisions can only be acquired by donation or exchange can impact long-term land use planning for these entities, restricting their capacity to sell or develop certain parcels.
Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service: Both agencies will need to adapt to changes in jurisdiction, which might require shifts in resource allocations and personnel to manage the expanded areas effectively.
Overall, while the bill aims to enhance and expand conservation efforts at Joshua Tree National Park, the successful implementation of its goals depends significantly on resolving issues related to the clarity and availability of supporting documents and the practical means to transfer and acquire new lands.
Issues
The map referenced in Section 2 for the expansion of Joshua Tree National Park is dated April 29, 2024, which is in the future relative to the current time. This raises concerns about the map's availability or finalization for reference, potentially leading to ambiguity regarding the exact location of the land being included (Section 2).
The technical correction in Section 3 lacks clarity because it does not specify the purpose or impact of the correction. This omission may lead to confusion or questions about its significance, especially for those unfamiliar with the original text (Section 3).
Section 2 mentions approximately 17,842 acres of land added to the park based on the map, but without access to the map, it is difficult to fully assess if the land expansion is appropriate or potentially wasteful (Section 2).
The language of the boundary adjustment in Section 2 is clear, but the lack of the referenced map might complicate assessments of the proposed land boundaries and their implications (Section 2).
Changes in administrative jurisdiction and land acquisition methods in Section 2(b) and 2(c) might require additional resources or adjustments by the involved agencies, affecting financial and operational planning (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 section states that the name of the law is the “Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act of 2024”.
2. Expansion of Joshua Tree National Park Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section amends the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 to expand Joshua Tree National Park by approximately 17,842 acres, as shown on a map dated April 29, 2024.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill states that the official name for the legislation is the "Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act of 2024".
2. Expansion of Joshua Tree National Park Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section expands the Joshua Tree National Park by adding over 20,000 acres of land to its boundaries and transfers control of this land to the National Park Service. The Secretary of the Interior is allowed to acquire more land within the park through donation, purchase, exchange, or transfer, but any land owned by California or its political subdivisions can only be acquired through donation or exchange.
3. Technical correction Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendment to the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act updates Section 1433(a) by changing the text from “156/149,375” to “156/149,375A” each time it is mentioned.