WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke celebrated the National Park Service's 101st birthday by visiting America's most-frequented National Park: the Great Smoky Mountains. The Secretary also went to the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the two locations, he learned about and toured deferred maintenance backlog projects and met with Park leadership.
At the Great Smoky Mountains he discussed the 2016 wildfire and the National Park Service's upcoming review of the fire. He also discussed managing wildfires and improving communications during emergency response.
He and Superintendent Cassius Cash were joined by dozens of park rangers for an employee Q&A period and a Founders Day cake-cutting.
Secretary Zinke cuts cake with Superintendent Cassius Cash The Secretary then got to work with the American Conservation Experience, a non-profit organization that provides a range of voluntary service programs for both American and international participants, on a deferred maintenance project to rebuild the Rainbow Falls Trail. The Secretary cut rocks for the Trail.
Earlier in the day, the Secretary, Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, and about two dozen local elected officials held a breakfast meeting where they discussed the 2016 wildfire and its impact on the park and town.
Source: Department of Interior
