Secretary Ryan Zinke meets with ranchers, local stakeholders on variety of topics. Courtesy photoDOI News:
LAS CRUCES ―Thursday, Secretary Ryan Zinke of the Department of the Interior participated in Day One of his five-day trip to the Western United States.
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, 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, 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 Gov. Susana Martinez attended the day’s meetings, and the Secretary will hold a call with Martinez later in the evening.
Friday, Zinke went hiking in the Organ Mountains Monument with veterans, and met 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.
