LAS CRUCES, New Mexico – Thursday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke participated in Day One of his five-day trip to the Western United States. Secretary Zinke started the morning with a helicopter tour of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument , as part of his ongoing review of National Monument designations in the United States. Organ Mountains is one of the National Monuments under review in accordance with President Donald Trump's April 26, 2017 Executive Order 13792.
In the afternoon, Secretary Zinke held a roundtable event with ranchers and other stakeholders (including university professors and County Commissioners) at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. Immediately after, the Secretary held another roundtable, this one on border security, at the same location.
The Secretary then met with Northern Ranchers about the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument , also at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, where he proceeded to hold a media availability afterwards. Following these events, the Secretary will take a driving tour of the area with the Bureau of Land Management, to see the Aguirre Spring Campground, Baylor Canyon Trailhead, and Dripping Springs & Visitor Center, among other parts of the local landscape. Staffers representing Representative Steve Pearce and Governor Susana Martinez attended the day's meetings, and the Secretary will hold a call with Governor Martinez later in the evening.
Tomorrow, Secretary Zinke will go hiking in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument with veterans, and he will also meet with more stakeholders, including several Tribal leaders, local officials, and other advocates.
Photos of the entire tour are available on the Department’s Flickr page.
Source: Department of Interior
