SB573 designates a mountain in Alaska, located at 63°04′12″N, 151°00′18″W, to be known as Denali. This designation is codified in Section 1(a) and Section 1(b) ensures that any reference in federal laws, maps, regulations, or other records uses the Denali name.
The change is a straightforward nomenclature update with no new regulatory powers or funding attached. The effect is to create a single, official name across federal documents and datasets.
At a Glance
What It Does
The bill designates the mountain at 63°04′12″N, 151°00′18″W in Alaska as ‘Denali’ and requires federal references in laws, maps, regulations, and documents to use that name.
Who It Affects
Federal geospatial data custodians (e.g., USGS) and mapping offices, plus Alaska state agencies that rely on federal map data.
Why It Matters
It removes ambiguity in official records by standardizing the mountain’s name across all federal documentation and datasets.
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What This Bill Actually Does
SB573 starts with a straightforward naming action. The mountain located at the coordinates 63°04′12″N, 151°00′18″W in Alaska is designated officially as Denali.
This is a formal nomenclature update that affects only how the peak is named in federal documents. Section 1(a) codifies the name Denali for the peak, while Section 1(b) ensures that any reference to the mountain in federal laws, maps, regulations, or other records is treated as Denali.
Practically, the bill does not create new programs or authorize spending. Its purpose is to align naming across government datasets and legal texts, reducing confusion for readers who rely on consistent geographic names.
By tying the name Denali to the specific geographic location, the bill helps ensure that maps and legal references point to the same peak in Alaska across agencies and databases.Because this is a pure naming change with no policy shifts, the functional impact is limited to record-keeping and map standards. Agencies maintaining geographic data will need to reflect the Denali designation in their internal systems and public documents; the bill does not alter boundaries, ownership, or management authorities for the mountain itself.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The mountain at 63°04′12″N, 151°00′18″W in Alaska is designated as ‘Denali’.
Section 1(a) codifies the Denali designation as the official name.
Section 1(b) requires all federal references to the mountain to use the Denali name.
The designation is a naming standard with no accompanying funding or regulatory powers.
Introduced February 13, 2025, by Senators Murkowski and Sullivan in the 119th Congress.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Designation of the Denali name
Section 1(a) designates the mountain at 63°04′12″N, 151°00′18″W in Alaska as ‘Denali.’ This creates the official, single name for the peak in all federal references moving forward.
Cross-references in laws and records
Section 1(b) instructs that any reference in federal law, maps, regulations, documents, or other records to the described mountain shall be deemed a reference to ‘Denali.’ This ensures consistency across statutes and official datasets.
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Who Benefits
- US Geological Survey (USGS) and other federal mapping agencies gain a single, consistent naming convention across datasets and products.
- Federal agencies maintaining geospatial data and official maps (e.g., DHS, NOAA) benefit from reduced ambiguity in datasets and regulatory materials.
- Alaska state agencies (e.g., Department of Natural Resources) and state geographic-name authorities benefit from aligned federal-state naming practices for planning and public records.
- GIS professionals and cartographers who maintain national and state datasets benefit from standardized references, simplifying data integration.
- Emergency management and public safety entities rely on consistent place names in operations and planning documents.
Who Bears the Cost
- Federal and state agencies updating internal datasets, databases, and public-facing maps to reflect the Denali designation.
- Map publishers, data vendors, and libraries updating references in products, catalogs, and archives.
- Any ongoing references in legacy documents or systems that previously used alternate names must be reconciled to ensure consistency.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing the desire for universal naming consistency with the administrative burden and transitional risks of updating large, interconnected geospatial databases and documents.
The bill is a pure naming change with minimal policy impact, but it raises practical questions about updating and standardizing records across numerous federal datasets and maps. Agencies will need to audit and adjust references in internal systems, publications, and public interfaces to reflect Denali consistently.
Transitional periods may require coordination to avoid discrepancies between legacy materials and the new naming standard. While the change reduces ambiguity, it also creates a short-term burden of data reconciliation and version control for datasets that cite the mountain under alternative names.
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