Rep. Angelica Rubio House District 35 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
The Greater Chaco Coalition has issued a statement criticizing the Trump Administration’s recent move to revoke a 10-mile mineral withdrawal around Chaco Culture National Historical Park, opening more land for oil and gas drilling. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) notified Tribal governments on October 30, 2025, that it would begin a process to rescind protections for future drilling within this buffer zone.
In its statement, the coalition said: “The Greater Chaco Coalition condemns the Trump Administration’s move to revoke the 10-mile mineral withdrawal, as well as its renewed push to lease ancestral lands within the Greater Chaco Landscape outside of the 10-mile buffer for oil and gas extraction. Local communities have been experiencing a devastating increase in drilling activities that threatens their health and the health of the land. The Greater Chaco Coalition once again calls for holistic protections for the entire Greater Chaco Landscape and its communities, including an end to fracking, remediation and reclamation, and meaningful investments in regenerative local economic opportunities and a just energy transition, grounded in the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.”
The coalition was formed to support Indigenous advocates such as Navajo Allottees and Navajo Chapters who have called for protection of the region across several administrations. According to their statement, millions—including New Mexico’s Congressional Delegation, National Congress of American Indians, and state lawmakers—have supported efforts to protect sacred sites from expanded oil and gas development. Both the Navajo Nation and All Pueblos Council of Governors have held summits affirming limits on industrial fracking in order to safeguard these areas.
Local chapters of Navajo Nation government have requested halts on oil and gas activities until thorough studies address cumulative environmental and public health impacts from fracking. The coalition notes that BLM has not yet evaluated these cumulative harms affecting land, air, water, people, or climate.
On November 6th, BLM is set to conduct an online auction leasing more than 3,838 acres in Greater Chaco and nearly 5,000 acres in Carlsbad for oil and gas development. Community members say this comes at a time when families face hardships such as lack of SNAP benefits during a government shutdown.
Frontline communities report being overburdened by almost 40,000 wells already operating across Greater Chaco. The coalition says new leases will worsen existing problems such as air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, toxic spills from liquid waste, damage to sacred sites and infrastructure vital for transport, along with increased risks to public health. They also allege BLM has not adequately consulted impacted Indigenous communities regarding this sale.
Hazel James-Tohe of Diné Centered Research & Evaluation commented: “The Diné People are rooted in the Land, Water, Air, and Fire/Sunbeam. It is incredibly disappointing for the US Department of the Interior to consider rescinding the 10-mile buffer around the Chaco Culture National Historical Park for future oil and gas drilling... Let’s break the cycle of failed promises regarding the public land sell-off and the neglect of producing a comprehensive cultural landscape management plan. The Greater Chaco landscape is sacred, and protection is vital for our future generations.”
Terry A. Sloan from Southwest Native Cultures added: “Again we are back at potentially desecrating a spiritual and Holy place on Mother Earth... Removing the ten-mile buffer would be a travesty for all Inhabitants of Mother Earth. Protect the Greater Chaco region and our beloved Chaco Canyon!”
Carlos Matutes with GreenLatinos stated: “We are appalled at the utter lack of respect for New Mexico’s lands... By removing protections from sacred lands... we admonish this terrible decision to forego wishes of Diné communities as well as our own Congressional Delegation.”
Camilla Feibelman with Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter said: “For years advocates... have called on federal agencies to protect cultural integrity... Now under a second Trump administration that is blatantly calling for public lands to be sold off... it’s urgent that we permanently protect this sacred landscape from further desecration…”
Rebecca Sobel from WildEarth Guardians commented: “This is a stunning failure of governance… After years… through Honoring Chaco Initiative… [BLM] has failed… instead reverting to extractive status quo…”
Rose Rushing at Western Environmental Law Center said: “The Trump administration’s attacks on this modest 10-mile protection zone are beyond unreasonable... More than 90% of Greater Chaco is already either industrialized by oil/gas extraction or promised… We will continue pushing community protections…”
Organizations supporting this statement include Torreon Community Alliance; San Juan Citizens Alliance; Chaco Alliance; Southwest Native Cultures; NM GreenLatinos; Earth Ethics Inc.; Rio Grande Chapter Sierra Club; WildEarth Guardians; Western Environmental Law Center; Navi Pin Haa Un Muu / Breath of My Heart Birthplace; Daniel E. Tso (former Navajo Nation Council Delegate).
