New Mexico community groups today express their strong support for the revival of a 2023 bill backed by the state’s entire Congressional delegation to codify into law a 10-mile buffer zone restricting new oil and gas extraction around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The Trump administration intends to reverse a 20-year administrative mineral withdrawal to intensify the oil and gas assault on this culturally and historically significant area. The larger “Greater Chaco” region is already over 91% leased for oil and gas extraction.
The legislation is a necessary measure to guarantee relief of the area and its communities, where it is common to see methane flares and heavy equipment surrounding the park. We look forward to working with the delegation and all stakeholders to protect the Greater Chaco landscape and to consider action to protect not only the park, but the communities living in the region already suffering the adverse impacts of oil and gas activities.
Chaco’s cultural resources extend well beyond the boundaries of the park and the proposed buffer. The local communities here suffer intensively from the ongoing impacts of oil and gas extraction, with poor air quality, heavy truck traffic, and serious harmful health effects. As such, this legislation is a welcome piece of what must become a broader conversation that acknowledges the federal government’s responsibility to address a legacy of exploitation in the Greater Chaco for the sake of its living Native communities as well as the irreplaceable cultural resources that make the area the heart of the Southwest. This conversation would present the opportunity to not just address the harms caused by fossil fuels, but the opportunities to support a just transition towards a healthier, more durable economy.
We thank the delegation for working closely with the Navajo Nation and All Pueblo Council of Governors on this issue. As their work continues, we encourage the delegation and all stakeholders to also acknowledge and engage in discussions regarding the future of the Greater Chaco landscape directly with local Native leadership and communities of the Tri-Chapters—Ojo Encino, Counselor, and Torreon—and Navajo Eastern Agency Management Zone whose on-the-ground perspective is essential to ensure well-reasoned and well-informed actions.
“We acknowledge the efforts of the New Mexico Congressional delegation as a step forward for landscape management practices that protect culturally significant places,” said Julia Bernal, executive director of Pueblo Action Alliance. “The Greater Chaco Landscape has endured a legacy of harm perpetuated by oil and gas extraction, and the current administration intends to intensify this exploitation, therefore codifying the 10-mile protection zone is a necessary step to build momentum for stronger protections in the future. We will continue to advocate for safeguards to protect our communities from new threats to our health and cultural affinity to Chaco Canyon, the remediation and cleanup of historic oil and gas infrastructure, and the implementation of environmental justice principles for future land management practices that center frontline community voices.”
“The Navajo Nation, the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs have devastated the eastern checkerboard region’s health and economic standing for the past decade and to protect the 10-mile buffer zone is the best option we have now to protect our sacred sites, health and precious water systems. We’ve seen this push before for leases while promising millions of dollars, but look at our community. No hospitals, no law enforcement, no human resources. What economic benefit do we have as frontline communities? What plan is in place for our frontline communities to have clean water, clean air and clean soil for the next decade? None. We invite the New Mexico Delegation to see for themselves, and to halt all leasing in and out of the 10-mile buffer zone,” said Cheyenne Antonio, energy organizer, Diné CARE.
“The Greater Chaco Landscape’s culturally important areas extend far beyond the borders of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, and the Trump administration’s attacks on this modest 10-mile protection zone require a legislative shield,” said Kyle Tisdel, climate and energy program director at the Western Environmental Law Center. “More than 90% of Greater Chaco is already either industrialized by oil and gas extraction or promised to industry for more drilling in the future, even as we recognize this activity’s impacts on the area’s communities and the climate. We will continue to push for community protections in intensively overexploited areas such as Greater Chaco so we may all enjoy a healthy, livable future in which our leaders prioritize environmental justice.”
“For over a decade, WildEarth Guardians has stood with communities fighting to end the desecration of the Greater Chaco Landscape. This 10-mile buffer is the bare minimum—a firewall against further destruction in a region already overrun by fossil fuel exploitation. More than 91% of Greater Chaco is sacrificed to oil and gas, and now Trump’s allies want the rest,” said Rebecca Sobel, campaign manager at WildEarth Guardians. “We must codify these protections and confront the industry’s toxic legacy with bold action, real clean-up, and a just transition for the Diné communities forced to live with the fallout of fracking.”
“For years, advocates and impacted community members have called on federal agencies to protect the cultural integrity of the Greater Chaco landscape and community well-being from fracking. Now, under a second Trump administration that is blatantly calling for public lands to be sold off for corporate polluter interests and turn back the clock on climate action, it’s urgent that we permanently protect this sacred landscape from further desecration, as well as the health of communities already overburdened from oil and gas drilling,” said Miya King-Flaherty, program manager at Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter. “We’re thankful to Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez for continuing to pursue protecting Chaco Culture National Historical Park and hope efforts to protect the broader landscape and public health are not forgotten.”
Contacts:
Julia Bernal, Pueblo Action Alliance, 505-220-0051, gro.e1744763598cnail1744763598lanoi1744763598tcaol1744763598beup@1744763598lanre1744763598bj1744763598
Cheyenne Antonio, Diné CARE, gro.e1744763598rac-e1744763598nid@y1744763598ehc1744763598
Kyle Tisdel, Western Environmental Law Center, 575-770-7501, gro.w1744763598alnre1744763598tsew@1744763598ledsi1744763598t1744763598
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