In Case You Missed It: Week in Review Out West

Week in Review Out West

Over the past week, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has been traveling through the West, making stops in North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and New Mexico. He started the western swing in Hope, ND where he joined Governor Doug Burgum and Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven before joining the First Lady of the United States Melania Trump at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. He was then in Montana with Representative Greg Gianforte for a grizzly bear roundtable, later concluding his trip in New Mexico to discuss the importance of responsible energy development on public lands and the Bureau of Land Management relocation.

North Dakota

The Secretary joined the Senators at the Hope American Legion hall for an informative and productive roundtable with rural landowners. The Secretary heard firsthand from landowners and farmers regarding wetlands preservation and land easement mapping issues. Interior is working hand-in-hand with folks in North Dakota to develop common sense solutions that ensure great waterfowl habitat, while allowing farmers to make their land more productive. 

Next the Secretary traveled to Bismarck, ND  where he kicked off the day with a press conference with Governor Burgum, and Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer before heading off to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, ND. At the press conference, leaders discussed the backlog of park repairs and innovative solutions under consideration by Congress, such as the “Restore Our Parks Act.” The National Park Service has roughly $50 million in deferred maintenance in North Dakota, mostly needed repairs to crumbling roads.

The Secretary conducted a site inspection of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, beginning with a stop at the Painted Canyon where he took in the scenic views. He then moved on to a stakeholder roundtable and a site inspection of a collapsed road. The road is part of the park’s 36-mile scenic loop, which is a tourist destination offering outstanding recreational opportunities, views of the badlands, prairie dog towns, and abundant wildlife watching. The project to repair the road is estimated to cost $6 to $8 million.

Wyoming Grand Teton National Park

The First Lady of the United States Melania Trump and U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt joined second and fourth graders in Grand Teton National Park for a field trip highlighting the importance of the Every Kid Outdoors Program. The program is an interagency collaboration between the Department of the Interior, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Forest Service that provides fourth graders with free access to explore, learn, and recreate in spectacular settings, including National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, Marine Sanctuaries, and National Forests.

Montana

Secretary Bernhardt joined Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte for a roundtable in Choteau discussing management practices for grizzly bears. Taking part in the roundtable were landowners, community leaders, state representatives, and representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Editorial: He’s an interior secretary on a mission

Never underestimate the power of public lands.

Take this incident from David Bernhardt’s childhood, when as a boy in Colorado, he visited the majestic Mesa Verde National Park. The visit was inspiring, something he never forgot.

Years later, as an adult — secretary of the Department of the Interior — Bernhardt went to Chaco Culture Historical Park to see firsthand the abandoned ruins threatened because of the increase in oil and gas drilling in the area. “I was stunned,” he said, speaking to New Mexican editors and a reporter during a visit to Santa Fe on Tuesday.

Read full editorial.