NEWS
Federal agency's proposal to rescind Chaco drilling protections riles state, tribal leaders
Elimination of 10-mile buffer zone would undo 2023 order by former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland
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SANTA FE 鈥� A federal agency鈥檚 proposal to revoke a 2023 order creating a 10-mile buffer from oil and gas drilling around the Chaco Culture Natural Historical Park in northwest New Mexico has drawn swift criticism from state officials and environmental groups.
State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, a Democrat who has issued two orders removing state trust land in the buffer zone from mineral leasing, criticized President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration for not holding a public hearing and providing a condensed 14-day public comment period.
鈥淣ew Mexicans love Chaco Canyon, and we will keep fighting to protect it from vicious attacks like this one,鈥� Garcia Richard said Thursday.
In addition, members of the Chaco Heritage Tribal Association, a group of five tribal nations with ancestral ties to Chaco Canyon, said federal officials have failed to attend agreed-upon meetings about a cultural inventory of the area.
鈥淲hen an agency asks tribes for knowledge and then builds its decision without it, the injury is not administrative,鈥� said Laguna Pueblo tribal historic preservation officer Richard Smith Sr., the group鈥檚 vice chairman. 鈥淚t is a lesson taught to the next generation about what a federal promise is worth.鈥�
The protective order was signed in 2023 by former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is now New Mexico鈥檚 Democratic nominee for governor, and had been slated to remain in place until 2043.
It applies to roughly 336,000 acres of federal lands within the 10-mile buffer surrounding Chaco Canyon 鈥� and not to subsurface mineral rights owned by private, state or tribal entities.
The Bureau of Land Management, which is led by former New Mexico congressman Steve Pearce, announced the proposed revocation this week after months of consideration. The is currently underway and scheduled to run through July 29 before a final decision is announced.
While current Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will make the final decision, Pearce said this week that submitted comments will be carefully reviewed.
鈥淕athering and considering these perspectives is a vital part of our process and to our mission of managing public lands for the benefit of all Americans,鈥� he said in a statement.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is located in a remote, largely roadless area between Albuquerque and Farmington. It was designated last year as one of the nation鈥檚 most endangered historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Pueblo leaders have pushed to make the ban on oil drilling around Chaco Canyon permanent, but Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has backed legislation that would rescind it.
In large part, that opposition is due to Navajo Nation allottees who financially benefit from drilling royalties. A group of Navajo landowners to Chaco in 2023, preventing Haaland from attending a celebration in recognition of the buffer zone order.
Meanwhile, the BLM considered three options before announcing the proposed revocation 鈥� leaving the buffer zone intact, shrinking it to a 5-mile buffer zone or eliminating it entirely.
As president, Trump has made domestic oil and gas production and mining a priority, and Pearce recently cited more efficient processing of oil and gas drilling applications as among his directives as BLM director.
However, environmental groups said revocation of the 2023 order could threaten archaeological and cultural sites in Chaco Canyon, which was a regional center for ancestral Pueblo people more than 1,000 years ago and is considered a sacred place by many of their descendants.
鈥淥pening up the Greater Chaco Region to reckless oil and gas drilling means an irreplaceable crown jewel of New Mexico public lands 鈥� home to thousands of archaeological and cultural sites of deep importance 鈥� will be at needless risk of destruction,鈥� said Jesse Deubel, the executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.
As for Haaland, a campaign spokeswoman said Thursday the former Interior secretary intends to submit a public comment on the BLM鈥檚 proposed action.
Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.
