We have until April 7 to defend Greater Chaco from Trump!

We are Greater Chaco sign by Jim Therrien Lybrook Community Ministries .jpg

Chaco Canyon is among the world's most treasured and sacred sites, with the greatest concentration of ancient pueblos in the American Southwest and a long cultural history that continues to be celebrated by Indigenous Peoples.

But the lands and communities surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park have been harmed and threatened by oil and gas drilling for years.

After decades of Tribal advocacy, in 2023 the Interior Department protected more than 336,000 acres around Chaco Park from new oil and gas drilling.

Now, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing to repeal protections of these irreplaceable landscapes, allowing a ridiculously short 7 days for public comment. If finalized, the reversal would erase critical protections and ignore the wishes of Pueblos and other Tribes whose culture and history is inextricably linked to the Greater Chaco landscape.

Your voice is critical: Use this form to let BLM know that you reject any attempt to erase protections for Greater Chaco!

✍🏼 The 7-day comment period ends April 7. Please add a short personal comment -- personalizing your comment makes it much more impactful. Thank you!

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Re: DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2026-0002-EA Evaluation of Potential Revocation of Chaco Withdrawal

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I am writing to strongly oppose any proposal to revoke or weaken protections for the Greater Chaco Region, in particular efforts to reduce or eliminate the 10-mile buffer established under Public Land Order 7923. The 2023 withdrawal of more than 336,000 acres from new oil and gas leasing was a critical step to protect a landscape of immense cultural, spiritual, and historical importance to Pueblos, Tribes, and Indigenous peoples across the Southwest. The region contains thousands of documented archaeological sites with over 4,200 within the buffer alone, and remains a living cultural homeland. The Park, along with some of the sites within the 10-mile protection zone, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Greater Chaco region has already suffered from significant damage to air, water, and public health due to oil and gas extraction. About 90 percent of available federal lands in the region are already leased for oil and gas drilling, threatening this sacred landscape and the health of communities living there today. Further industrial expansion would place irreplaceable resources, community health, and future generations at risk. Equally important is the process that led to these protections. Public Land Order 7923 followed years of Tribal consultation and extensive public engagement, including over 160,000 public comments in support. In contrast, the current 7-day comment period is inadequate and undermines meaningful public participation and Tribal consultation. I urge you to uphold Public Land Order 7923 in full and maintain the 10-mile buffer by choosing the No Action alternative. This is essential to honoring Tribal Nations, protecting cultural heritage, and ensuring responsible stewardship of public lands. Thank you for your consideration.

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Photo of community members erecting sign in Greater Chaco by Jim Therrien, Lybrook Community Ministries