Anjali Taneja House District 18 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
Tribal governments, numerous organizations, and thousands of individuals have urged the Trump administration to halt plans for leasing nearly 15,000 acres of tribal and federal public lands in New Mexico for fracking. The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) February oil and gas lease sale is part of the administration's "energy dominance" agenda, which has been criticized for prioritizing fracking on public lands.
The BLM has faced backlash from local communities and advocacy groups who argue that the agency's resource management plans are outdated and fail to consider the impacts of industrialized fracking on New Mexico's culture, communities, and climate. Currently, over 65,000 wells operate on public and tribal lands in the state without adequate consideration for community health or environmental justice.
Critics highlight that more than 94% of available land in Greater Chaco and 97% in Greater Carlsbad have already been sold to the oil and gas industry. A recent federal court ruling criticized BLM’s narrow focus on individual wells instead of considering cumulative impacts from thousands of planned new wells.
Environmental groups have submitted comments opposing a proposal to auction off 17,000 acres across New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Concerns include potential harm to public health, clean air, water resources, wildlife habitats, cultural sites, national parks like Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Advocates commend efforts by New Mexican Congressional Delegation members like Senator Tom Udall and Congressman Ben Ray Lujan to protect areas within Greater Chaco Landscape through legislative measures such as restricting funding for new oil leases within a proposed buffer zone.
Statements from various stakeholders emphasize ongoing protests against BLM’s actions: “We protest BLM’s approval...as cultural resources have yet to be surveyed,” said one advocate. Another added: “It is beyond irresponsible for BLM to approve more leases...further sacrificing our communities.”
Environmental advocates call for meaningful consultation with affected communities: “The health of local residents is at stake...Going ahead with the February 2020 lease sale represents another missed opportunity,” they assert.
“BLM should cancel this lease sale–it’s a regional travesty," said an opponent. Hundreds signed petitions protesting upcoming sales near Chaco Canyon citing concerns over irreparable damage caused by rampant leasing combined with weakened environmental protections under current policies.
