Congressman O’Rourke files bill to preserve Castner Range

El Paso congressman Beto O’Rourke is hoping to add another national monument to the Borderland.

On Wednesday, the congressman introduced a bill to create the Franklin Mountains National Monument to protect 7,081 acres of land on the eastern slopes of the mountain.

“Castner Range is the crown jewel of West Texas. It deserves to be protected and preserved in its natural state.” wrote the congressman on his Facebook page.

Castner Range is one of the last undeveloped slopes of the Franklins.

The surrounding areas have already been developed, and Congressman O’Rourke and several residents agree that with continuous growth in El Paso, the open land might become commercialized or residential.

The 11 square miles of Castner Range are owned by the U.S. Army. For about 40 years, from 1926 to 1966, the land was used for live fire of field and air defense artillery, such as mortars and high explosives.

The range is no longer in use, and it’s admired for its pristine condition.

The property is off limits to people, and signs surround the range warning visitors about the dangers of entering due to the possibility of unexploded ammunition on the land.

The Army is doing a remedial investigation. The Department of Defense would have to transfer the land to the Department of Interior for it to be added to the list of national monuments.

A source close to the preservation process said the land would not need to be rid of ammunition in order to be designated a national monument.

The Frontera Land Alliance, a non-profit organization that advocates for the protection of land and wildlife, is gathering 10,000 signatures to support the proposal.