Over 200 advocates gathered in front of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) state office in Santa Fe to protest an online auction scheduled for December 5th and 6th. The auction involves over 89,000 acres of public and ancestral tribal lands, including more than 44,000 acres in the Greater Chaco region and over 40,000 near Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The rally included tribal leaders, environmental groups, and other advocates who voiced concerns about BLM's lack of public engagement and meaningful tribal consultation.

Despite receiving a record-breaking number of protest comments—10,000 in total—the BLM plans to proceed with leasing based on outdated Resource Management Plans (RMPs). These plans were established before modern fracking methods became feasible and without consent from Navajo Nation and Pueblos.

The BLM state headquarters were closed due to a federal day of mourning for former President George H. W. Bush. Nevertheless, Greater Chaco advocates held their rally to remind agency officials of their commitment to developing a new plan for protecting Greater Chaco.

Participants at the rally displayed a large banner reading “Not Your Sacrifice Zone: We Demand Justice,” which they taped to the BLM headquarters' wall. This act highlighted their demand for meaningful tribal and public consultation and environmental protections.

Earlier this year, Interior Secretary Zinke deferred a March lease sale after calling for more cultural consultation in the Greater Chaco region. However, the BLM has yet to survey over 5,400 cultural resources there.

Advocate groups have filed a lawsuit claiming that drilling without an updated plan is illegal. The Navajo Nation, All Pueblo Council of Governors, National Congress of American Indians, multiple Navajo Chapter Houses, New Mexico Legislature members, over 100 organizations, and more than 400,000 citizens have requested a moratorium on drilling until RMPs are updated.

A map showing oil and gas leases is available online.