Senator wants Bandelier designated national park

SANTA FE (AP) — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich wants the federal government to turn Bandelier National Monument into a full-fledged national park.

New Mexico's junior senator told state lawmakers Friday that he plans to introduce legislation this year what would provide national park status to the wilderness area and archaeological preserve near Los Alamos.

Bandelier National Monument is named after 19th century anthropologist Adolph Bandelier and perhaps best known for its ancient cliff dwellings and petroglyphs.

Heinrich and Sen. Tom Udall have been prominent figures in Democratic resistance to Trump's effort to shrink national monuments and unravel environmental protections.

Heinrich says he also wants to revive efforts to grant national park status to White Sands National Monument.