The secretary of the interior toured a geological wonder near Palm Springs last year that directly led to the creation of California's new national monument.
Former Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer is being considered for a high-profile position in the federal government, potentially as assistant secretary for Indian Affairs.
The Biden administration proposed two rounds of new environmental protections for sites in the Western U.S. on Monday, beginning a process that would extend into the forthcoming Trump administration.