The Trump administration has initiated a proposal to revoke the 20-year ban on oil and gas leasing within a 10-mile radius of Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico. This move aims to open approximately 336,000 acres of public lands to new drilling activities, potentially impacting one of North America’s most significant archaeological sites. (nationalparkstraveler.org)
In 2023, the Biden administration established Public Land Order 7923, which withdrew federal minerals from future leasing within this buffer zone, effectively protecting the area from new oil and gas development. The current proposal seeks to reverse this order, allowing new drilling operations within the protected boundaries. (nationalparkstraveler.org)
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has opened a seven-day public comment period to gather feedback on this proposal. However, critics argue that this brief timeframe is insufficient for meaningful public participation, especially considering the site’s cultural and environmental significance. (sourcenm.com)
Tribal leaders and environmental organizations have expressed strong opposition to the proposed rollback. They emphasize the sacredness of Chaco Canyon to Indigenous communities and the potential environmental degradation that could result from increased drilling activities. (nwf.org)
The BLM’s proposal is part of a broader trend of policy changes under the current administration, including efforts to streamline offshore drilling regulations and exempt certain projects from environmental protections. These actions have raised concerns among conservationists and Indigenous groups about the long-term impacts on natural and cultural resources. (apnews.com)
As the public comment period concludes, stakeholders await further developments regarding the future of Chaco Canyon and its surrounding lands.
Highlights:
- Trump administration to rejoin offshore drilling agencies separated after 2010 Gulf oil spill, Published on Friday, April 03
- Trump officials exempt oil and gas drilling in the Gulf from endangered species rules, Published on Monday, March 30
- Trump administration seeks Endangered Species Act exemption for oil, gas projects in Gulf, Published on Thursday, March 26