The bill designates the mountain at the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming as “Devils Tower” and directs that any reference in federal laws, maps, regulations, orders, documents, or other records to the described mountain or its surrounding area be deemed a reference to “Devils Tower.” This is a narrowly scoped naming change with no accompanying policy provisions, funding, or programmatic authorities. The action is purely administrative, intended to standardize how the site is identified across federal instruments.
At a Glance
What It Does
The mountains and surrounding area within Devils Tower National Monument are designated as “Devils Tower,” and all federal references to the described feature are treated as referring to “Devils Tower.”
Who It Affects
Federal agencies, cartographers, and contractors that reference the site in laws, maps, or official documents will adopt a single, standardized name.
Why It Matters
This reduces ambiguity in federal records and maps, improving consistency across agencies and external references.
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What This Bill Actually Does
This bill is a formal naming adjustment with minimal policy content. It designates the Devils Tower mountain, located inside the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, to be known in law as “Devils Tower.” The change requires that any federal reference to the mountain or the surrounding area use that exact name.
The practical effect is to standardize language in statutes, regulations, maps, and official documents across federal agencies. There is no funding authorization, no new programs, and no changes to agency authority beyond how the site is named in legal and regulatory texts.
Agencies would need to update internal databases, signage, and published materials to reflect the new designation, but the change does not create new regulatory requirements or duties beyond naming consistency.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill designates the Devils Tower mountain as 'Devils Tower' in federal references.
All references to the mountain or nearby area in federal documents must use the name 'Devils Tower.', No funding or programmatic changes accompany the designation.
The action is strictly an administrative naming standard with map and record implications.
The bill's scope is limited to the naming and does not alter management or access policies for the site.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Designation of Devils Tower
Section 1(a) authorizes that the mountain at the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, including the described coordinates, shall be known and designated as 'Devils Tower.' This creates a formal legal name for the site and establishes a single official reference that will appear in federal instruments. The practical effect is to align legal nomenclature with common usage, facilitating consistency across laws, maps, and government records.
References amended across laws and records
Section 1(b) provides that any reference in any federal law, map, regulation, order, document, or other record to the designated mountain and area shall be deemed a reference to 'Devils Tower.' This ensures that the newly designated name is applied uniformly, reducing ambiguity in regulatory and mapping contexts. The provision is deliberately narrow and technical, with no substantive changes to regulatory authority or land management.
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Who Benefits
- National Park Service and Devils Tower National Monument staff benefit from a single, official name across internal and external documents, reducing confusion in communications and policy implementation.
- Cartographers and GIS professionals gain consistency in map layers and datasets, improving searchability and accuracy in federal maps and public-facing products.
- Federal agencies that reference the site in regulations, compliance materials, or procurement documents benefit from reduced ambiguity and streamlined document governance.
- Local tourism authorities and Wyoming businesses may experience branding clarity that aids visitor information and marketing.
Who Bears the Cost
- National Park Service will incur administrative costs to update signage, maps, datasets, and other official materials to reflect the new designation.
- Federal agencies and government contractors will need to revise internal documents, databases, and possibly procurement or reporting templates.
- Map publishers and GIS data vendors must refresh products to incorporate the standardized name across platforms.
- Local governments and businesses may incur minor costs to update marketing materials and signage at visitor centers and related sites.
- Tribal organizations and cultural stakeholders may need to engage in outreach or address concerns related to naming practices and cultural significance, potentially adding non-monetary costs or consultation requirements.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether a formal naming alignment across federal instruments is worth the administrative effort and potential cultural sensitivities when the site’s commonly used name already appears in public use and tourism.
The bill’s scope is narrowly tailored to a naming change with limited direct policy impact beyond standardizing references. Because the action is administrative, it does not authorize new funding, alter land management authorities, or modify access or protections at Devils Tower.
The primary implementation challenge will be ensuring all federal documents, databases, and maps reflect the designated name, which may entail coordinated updates across multiple agencies and publishers. The absence of a broader policy package means minimal downstream policy risk, but it also leaves open questions about how tribal relationships and cultural naming practices are perceived and addressed in related, non-federal records.
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