Advocates make pitch for Castner Range before Obama departs
Advocates for turning the Franklin Mountains’ Castner Range into a national monument are ramping up efforts in hopes of getting the federal designation approved before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, said it’s hard to know how the election of Trump affects Castner Range’s chances, or whether the land could become a monument once President Barack Obama leaves office.
O’Rourke said that’s why he and other advocates will try to draw attention to the proposal and the broad support it has from the El Paso community at a public meeting Saturday morning that will include an official from the Obama Administration.
“This is our chance to demonstrate that (support) to the administration,” O’Rourke said. “This is our final push.”
“This is our chance to demonstrate that (support) to the administration. This is our final push.”
U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso
The former 7,081-acre U.S. Army artillery range is home to archaeological artifacts, wildlife and plants, including Mexican gold poppies. Designating the land as a national monument would protect wildlife habitats and flora and prevent future growth up the eastern flank of the Franklin Mountains, advocates said.
