Call to action: Protect the Greater Chaco region
Public comment period open for proposed changes to protections in the Greater Chaco region
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting public comments through July 29 on a proposal that could affect federal protections for the Greater Chaco landscape in northwestern New Mexico.
The Greater Chaco region is an irreplaceable cultural and ancestral landscape with deep significance for many Tribal Nations, including Pueblo communities and the Navajo Nation. Beyond the boundaries of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, the surrounding landscape contains cultural sites, historic roads, archaeological resources, and places that continue to hold cultural, spiritual, and historical importance today.
The BLM is seeking public input on a draft Environmental Assessment evaluating whether to revoke, in whole or in part, the 2023 public land withdrawal that currently limits new federal oil and gas leasing and mining claims on approximately 336,000 acres surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park. According to the agency, the proposal would maintain a five-mile buffer around the park while reopening lands beyond that boundary to mineral leasing and mining, if approved.
Community members who wish to learn more or submit comments can do so through the BLM's National NEPA Register.
Learn More
- BLM Project Home Page and Draft Environmental Assessment
- BLM News Release: Public Comment Period Announcement
- Learn more and sign the petition
As a community foundation committed to the long-term well-being of northern New Mexico, we encourage community members to stay informed about issues affecting the places, cultures, and communities we serve.
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