“We’re Not Out of the Woods Yet.” The BLM Must Take Next Steps to Protect Greater Chaco.

On February 8, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it will again remove several land parcels near Chaco Culture National Historical Park from an upcoming oil and gas lease sale after receiving unanimous condemnation from New Mexico tribal leaders, the governor, and the state’s entire congressional delegation. The BLM had previously and consistently promised not to lease parcels in the 10 mile Chaco Core Protection Zone around the Park until, at least, it finalizes an amendment to its land management plan regarding energy development.

“Together, New Mexicans spoke out against drilling at Chaco,” said Congresswoman Deb Haaland. “Today, we got good news, and we successfully protected parts of our treasured New Mexico heritage from the profit driven oil companies, but we’re not out of the woods yet.”

While the temporary deferral of these parcels was welcome news to tribal, state, and community leaders, it begs the question as to whether the BLM will provide any protections to lands within the buffer zone in its final Farmington Resource Management Plan amendment. The All Pueblo Council of Governors, Navajo Nation, Senator Udall, Senator Heinrich, Governor Lujan-Grisham, all three of New Mexico’s congressional representatives and dozens of community organizations have called on the Department of Interior and BLM to protect Greater Chaco.

“The BLM did the right thing by deferring these parcels from being leased on culturally-significant and fragile land in the greater Chaco area, a UNESCO world heritage site. However, this is the third time under this administration that BLM has chosen to defer parcels in this area — and this stop-start, shoot-from-the-hip approach is not sustainable or in anyone’s best interest. The administration should take the next step and agree to not lease any parcels within 10 miles of the National Historical Park until a real joint management plan that includes robust and meaningful Tribal consultation has been implemented, health impacts are assessed, and a thorough ethnographic study of the area’s cultural resources is conducted,” stated Senator Udall following the BLM’s lease sale deferral announcement.

In 2018, Senators Udall and Heinrich also introduced federal legislation that would protect Greater Chaco from oil and gas drilling. New legislation is expected in the coming months that would do the same.