Don't let them take away Chaco protections

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

The Trump administration is moving to the next step in its effort to expose Greater Chaco to new oil and gas drilling, complete with another truncated comment window. That means it's time to blow out the window with comments again.

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.

The lands and communities surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park have been harmed by oil and gas drilling for years, but after decades of Tribal advocacy, the Interior Department protected more than 336,000 acres around Chaco Culture National Historical Park from new oil and gas drilling in 2023.

In March, more than 100,000 people wrote to oppose the BLM's initial proposal to remove those protections, despite having only seven days to comment.

Now, the BLM has issued an inadequate Environmental Assessment of axing Greater Chaco protections. The assessment is open to public comment, but the administration doesn't want you to know it is taking this unpopular step, so it has shortened the normal 90-day comment period to 14 days.

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

✅ The comment period ends July 29. Please comment and add a personal note and subject line to make your message more impactful. Thank you!

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I am writing to strongly oppose the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to revoke protections for the Greater Chaco Region by eliminating the 10-mile buffer established under Public Land Order 7923.
The process for revoking the buffer is profoundly flawed. There is no summary of the comments that were made during the seven-day scoping period in April, making it impossible to know how BLM has considered comments received during scoping. The comment deadline on the revocation overlaps with the protest period for the August 2026 Q3 lease sale of nearly 17,000 acres within the Greater Chaco landscape, making it difficult for individuals, communities and organizations to meaningfully comment on both. 
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 more than 4,200 documented within the buffer alone, and remains a living cultural homeland. Chaco Culture National Historical 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. Further industrial expansion would threaten irreplaceable resources, community health, and future generations.
Equally important is the process that led to these protections. Public Land Order 7923 followed years of Tribal consultation and extensive public engagement, including more than 160,000 public comments in support. In contrast, the current 14-day comment period is inadequate and undermines meaningful public participation and Tribal consultation.
This shortened comment period severely limits local participation and comment. Tribes, local tribal entities and consulting organizations have not been meaningfully consulted during this process. I urge you to extend the comment period, to conduct meaningful consultation with local entities, and to choose the "No Action" alternative, upholding Public Land Order 7923 in full. This is essential to honoring Tribal Nations, protecting cultural heritage, and ensuring responsible stewardship of public lands.
Thank you for your consideration.

I am writing to strongly oppose the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to revoke protections for the Greater Chaco Region by eliminating the 10-mile buffer established under Public Land Order 7923. The process for revoking the buffer is profoundly flawed. There is no summary of the comments that were made during the seven-day scoping period in April, making it impossible to know how BLM has considered comments received during scoping. The comment deadline on the revocation overlaps with the protest period for the August 2026 Q3 lease sale of nearly 17,000 acres within the Greater Chaco landscape, making it difficult for individuals, communities and organizations to meaningfully comment on both. 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 more than 4,200 documented within the buffer alone, and remains a living cultural homeland. Chaco Culture National Historical 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. Further industrial expansion would threaten irreplaceable resources, community health, and future generations. Equally important is the process that led to these protections. Public Land Order 7923 followed years of Tribal consultation and extensive public engagement, including more than 160,000 public comments in support. In contrast, the current 14-day comment period is inadequate and undermines meaningful public participation and Tribal consultation. This shortened comment period severely limits local participation and comment. Tribes, local tribal entities and consulting organizations have not been meaningfully consulted during this process. I urge you to extend the comment period, to conduct meaningful consultation with local entities, and to choose the "No Action" alternative, upholding Public Land Order 7923 in full. 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