Another Heinrich Maneuver: Defense bill includes national park designation for White Sands

White Sands National Monument may only be a few weeks away from becoming a national park. Amendments to change its designation are included in both the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act. The defense spending bill is in conference committee, where lawmakers are working to reconcile the versions. “We are hopeful it will come out of conference,” U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small said. “It is something that is overwhelmingly supported.” She is one of the sponsors of the House amendment. Should the amendment remain in the bill signed into law, she said White Sands would be declared a national park. Aaron Morales, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, said the change in designation would not be a change in management. “Entrance fees and access would stay the same,” he said. “The difference will be in resources and staffing options,” Torres Small said. “It changes the availability of grants. It also helps expand the marketing reach.” Morales said changing the national monument to a national park “would immediately bring new attention and prominent inclusion in global and domestic travel materials.”...MORE

Rep. Torrez Small says, “It is included in the NDAA because it involves military land."

That ain't necessarily so. Heinrich has used the NDAA to designate the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness in Taos County, to expand the Wheeler Peak Wilderness and to transfer the Valles Caldera from the Forest Service to the National Park Service, no military lands involved. So let's call it what it is - another Heinrich Maneuver.  

Heinrich will take whatever legislative vehicle is available to take federal land out of multiple-use status, or take it from a less burdensome management category to a more restrictive management regime. At least this time the legislation has passed both Houses of Congress before going to conference, which is not the typical tactic.