The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has initiated a 14-day public comment period on a proposal to revoke protections for approximately 336,404 acres surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico. This action could reopen the area to mining and mineral leasing, potentially impacting over 12,000 archaeological sites significant to Native American heritage. (blm.gov)
In 2023, the Department of the Interior, under Secretary Deb Haaland, withdrew these lands from mineral leasing for 20 years to preserve their cultural and historical value. The current proposal seeks to reverse this decision, allowing new oil and gas drilling within a 10-mile radius of the park. (npca.org)
The BLM has outlined three alternatives:
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No Action Alternative: Maintain the existing 10-mile buffer, keeping approximately 336,404 acres closed to new mineral leasing for 20 years.
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Alternative 1 (Proposed Action): Fully revoke the withdrawal, reopening all 336,404 acres to mining and mineral leasing.
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Alternative 2: Partially revoke the withdrawal, allowing leasing and mining beyond a 5-mile buffer around the park. (blm.gov)
The public comment period ends on July 29, 2026. Stakeholders, including Native American communities, environmental organizations, and concerned citizens, are encouraged to submit their comments to the BLM. The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) has urged its members to participate, emphasizing the park’s significance as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the potential risks posed by the proposed changes. (sah.org)
For more information and to submit comments, visit the BLM’s official page. (blm.gov)
The outcome of this proposal will significantly influence the preservation of Chaco Culture National Historical Park and its surrounding lands, which hold profound cultural and historical importance for Native American communities.