Indigenous Leaders Rally in Santa Fe to Stop Chaco Oil and Gas Sale

On January 25, 2017, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is scheduled to hold an online auction of 843 acres of public lands near Chaco Culture National Historical Park for oil and gas leasing. The proposed parcels have been challenged and deferred three times previously.

The BLM is currently amending its 2003 Resource Management Plan to account for the impacts of multi-stage fracking the Greater Chaco area, but the agency continues to lease public lands and approve drilling permits without safeguards for the culture, communities, and climate of Greater Chaco.

WHAT:

Navajo Chapter Presidents will meet with BLM State Director Amy Lueders and demand she use her discretion to cancel the sale and protect public health and cultural sites in the area. A press conference with affected Navajo residents and Tribal leaders will follow. Petition signatures, resolutions, protests, and letters in opposition to the sale will be delivered publically to the State Director.

WHERE and WHEN:

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

BLM State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Daniel Tso, former Torreon Council Delegate, (505) 419-4343

Kendra Pinto, Twin Pines Resident, (773) 710-3065,

Rebecca Sobel, WildEarth Guardians, (267) 402-0724

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS:

Counselor Chapter

Nageezi Chapter

Ojo Encino Chapter

Torreon Chapter

Diné C.A.R.E.

Dooda Fracking

Dooda (NO) Desert Rock Organization

Power Through Peace

Pueblo Action Alliance

Pueblo Gathering for the Protection of Greater Chaco

Southwest Native Cultures

Tewa Women United

Water Protectors of New Mexico

Campaign to END Sacrifice ZONES

Center for Biological Diversity

Confluence Collective

Conservation Voters New Mexico

Earth Care

Environment New Mexico

Frack Free New Mexico

Frack Free Four Corners

Frack Off Greater Chaco

Food and Water Watch- New Mexico

I Stand with Standing Rock

Juntos: Our Air, Our Water

Natural Resources Defense Council

New Energy Economy

New Mexico MoveOn

NM Climate Action

Rainforest Action Network

Rio Arriba Concerned Citizens

San Juan Citizens Alliance

Sierra Club: Rio Grande Chapter

Western Environmental Law Center

WildEarth Guardians