(a) In order to protect for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations that area in western New Mexico containing the La Ventana Natural Arch and the other unique and nationally important geological, archeological, ecological, cultural, scenic, scientific, and wilderness resources of the public lands surrounding the Grants Lava Flows, there is hereby established the El Malpais National Conservation Area (hereinafter referred to as the "conservation area"). The conservation area shall consist of approximately 262,690 acres of federally owned land as generally depicted on a map entitled "El Malpais National Monument and National Conservation Area" numbered NM–ELMA–80,001–B and dated May 1987. The map shall be on file and available for inspection in the offices of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the Interior.

(b) As soon as practicable after December 31, 1987, the Secretary shall file a legal description of the conservation area designated under this section with the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives. Such legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in such legal description. The legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.