Anita Gonzalez House District 70 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
The Sierra Club has issued a statement concerning the reintroduction of federal legislation aimed at protecting Chaco Canyon, a site significant for its cultural heritage. This area, according to the Sierra Club, has been targeted for new oil and gas drilling initiatives under Project 2025 and the previous Trump Administration.
Miya King-Flaherty, Program Manager of the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, emphasized the ongoing efforts to safeguard the Greater Chaco landscape and the well-being of nearby communities from the impacts of fracking. "For years, advocates and impacted community members have called on federal agencies to protect the cultural integrity of the Greater Chaco landscape and community well-being from fracking. Now, under a second Trump administration that is blatantly calling for public lands to be sold off for corporate polluter interests and turn back the clock on climate action, it's urgent that we permanently protect this sacred landscape from further desecration, as well as the health of communities already overburdened from oil and gas drilling," King-Flaherty stated.
King-Flaherty also expressed gratitude toward Senator Ben Ray Lujan and Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez for their continuous efforts in protecting the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. "We’re thankful to Senator Ben Ray Lujan and Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez for continuing to pursue protecting Chaco Culture National Historical Park and hope efforts to protect the broader landscape and public health are not forgotten," the statement concluded.
Chaco Canyon, with its historical significance, remains a focal point for advocates calling for its preservation against drilling activities. The Sierra Club stresses the need for legislative measures to ensure its protection and the well-being of the surrounding communities.
