January 17, 2017
For immediate release
ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Wildlife Federation recognizes the importance of the Department of the Interior Secretary position – especially for hunters and anglers across New Mexico. To that end, we are pleased to see Senator Martin Heinrich stand up for New Mexico today by questioning Interior Secretary Nominee Representative Ryan Zinke about his commitment to national monuments and public lands. We applaud the senator’s leadership and hope he will continue to work to hold Zinke accountable if he is confirmed.
The New Mexico Wildlife Federation has concerns about Zinke’s response to Heinrich’s questioning about monuments like Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains Desert Peaks. While Zinke stated he is committed to working with communities on management plans, he also stated during questioning about the Antiquities Act that the door to nullification of monuments has been left open. He also recently voted in favor of a House rule change that would make it easier to sell off our federally managed public lands. Our national monuments have widespread support from sportsmen and women, businesses, and the local economy –we thoroughly expect that the head of the Interior Department would pledge to protect these public lands all Americans enjoy. National monuments in New Mexico and elsewhere have helped to protect wildlife habitat and access for hunters and anglers. We urge Zinke to understand the benefits these designations have had for New Mexico and the west before making any management decisions or recommendations.
As Secretary of the Interior, Zinke will be responsible for the management of millions of acres of public lands in the west that New Mexico’s hunters and anglers depend on. We are glad Zinke agrees with the West’s sportsmen and women and wants to keep our public lands public, and supports the Land and Water Conservation Fund. However, his opposition to the Bureau of Land Management’s effort to reduce methane pollution from oil and gas wells is troubling as his openness to overturning national monument designations. The New Mexico Wildlife Federation is not against energy production and mineral development, but we strongly believe a balanced approach is needed when it comes to the management of our public lands and our national natural resources. It is crucial to make sure energy production is expanded in a sustainable way that does not adversely impact critical wildlife habitat and watershed integrity. We hope if confirmed, Zinke fully commits to protecting our public lands.
As Zinke nomination moves forward, we will keep an eye on Zinke’s position on key New Mexico issues and look forward to working with New Mexico’s congressional delegation to ensure Zinke does right by hunters, anglers, and all of us who treasure our public lands.
