Federal land surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with centuries-old Puebloan structures — would be permanently withdrawn from oil and gas leasing, mining, and mineral development. Non-producing oil and gas leases in the area would automatically terminate, and the land couldn't be re-leased. The bill is a direct response to expanded drilling in the Mancos/Gallup Shale formation, which has raised concerns about impacts on archaeological sites, sacred landscapes, and the health of nearby tribal communities including the Navajo Nation, Pueblo Tribes, and Hopi Tribe. Existing tribal mineral rights and local water and road infrastructure would not be affected.
Congressional Summary
This bill creates a buffer zone around the Chaco Culture National Historic Park in New Mexico by prohibiting certain leases on federal land for the development of mineral resources or geothermal energy within the buffer zone. Nonproducing oil and gas leases in the buffer zone are terminated.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-04-10
- Date Added
- 2026-03-30
- Source
- Congress.gov →
Like reading a bill in plain English?
We're building an app that does this for every bill in Congress and lets you tell your reps how you want them to vote. We're a small team getting ready to launch, and we're trying to show investors that real people want this. Be one of them. Help us get it built. Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment the app is ready.