GRANTS, N.M. — The future of Chaco Culture National Historical Park and the greater cultural landscape around it is again in flux, as federal officials begin formal steps to consider revoking a 10mile buffer that has limited new oil, gas, and exploratory mining since 2023. The review has reignited long-standing tensions among tribal governments, energy interests, conservation groups, and New Mexico’s congressional delegation—each invoking sovereignty, heritage, economics, and law in a debate that stretches from Northwest New Mexico to Washington, D.C.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) notified tribal leaders last week that it will start government- to-government consultations and prepare an environmental assessment on whether to change or revoke the 20-year mineral withdrawal around the park. According to the letter, the agency will evaluate three options: leave the withdrawal in place, revoke it entirely, or adopt a smaller buffer. A public comment period will follow.
The 2023 order, issued under former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, halted new federal oil and gas leasing and new mining claims within 10 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park for two decades. Existing leases and non-federal lands were not directly affected, but the action was celebrated by many Pueblo governments and opposed by others, including Navajo Nation leaders and individual Navajo allottees who rely on royalty income.
For Pueblo communities, Chaco is a living center of prayer and identity.
“Our bloodlines, our heritage, our cultural foundation, our identity comes from Chaco Canyon,” Santo Domingo Pueblo Lt. Gov. Raymond Aguilar said during a September news conference near the U.S. Capitol, where Pueblo leaders urged Congress to keep the buffer and pass legislation to make it permanent. Leaders from Acoma, Laguna, Santa Ana, Picuris, Cochiti, Zia and Tesuque joined New Mexico Democrats in the delegation to press the case.
From Acoma and Laguna in New Mexico to the Hopi in Arizona, oral histories and cultural traditions tie back to Chaco. Researchers at Picuris Pueblo have also used DNA to link tribal members to the ancestral site—evidence Pueblo leaders hope will strengthen their voice in decisions about the area’s future.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park— part of a UNESCO World Heritage property that also includes Aztec Ruins— protects great houses, kivas and roads that once knit together a regional hub. The surrounding San Juan Basin is also among the country’s busiest naturalgas regions, and the land pattern outside the park is a checkerboard of federal, state, private, Navajo Nation and Navajo allotment parcels. That mosaic underpins both the cultural sensitivity and the economic stakes.
Navajo Nation Lawsuit and the 5-Mile Alternative
In January, the Navajo Nation sued the Interior Department, arguing the federal government did not properly consult the Nation or weigh a 5-mile alternative before issuing the 10mile withdrawal. The complaint cites the economic needs of Navajo allottees who live in a region where many households depend on oil and gas royalty payments as a significant source of income. The case remains pending as the federal review moves ahead.
Two Pueblos—Acoma and Laguna—have intervened in support of keep- ing the withdrawal intact, calling the greater Chaco landscape irreplaceable.
“Our primary goal is to protect the landscape that has some really irreplaceable cultural resources,” said Aaron Sims, attorney for Acoma Pueblo. For many Southwestern tribes, he added, “Chaco is really a piece of their ancestral homeland.”
Politics in Washington and Santa Fe
New Mexico’s Democratic delegation has reintroduced legislation to permanently codify the 10mile buffer. Sen. Ben Ray Luján called Chaco “one of the world’s greatest treasures,” saying it must be protected “for our future generations” and noting his earlier efforts in the House to advance Chaco protections and examine methane pollution in the region.
Some Republicans argue the federal withdrawal went too far and undercut tribal self-determination for Navajo families who hold allotments. New Mexico GOP Chairwoman Amy Barela said the party “stands with the Navajo Nation allottees and their right to pursue responsible economic development on their lands,” while also acknowledging Chaco’s cultural and spiritual significance. “Preservation of these sacred sites is essential,” she said, adding that “it can coexist with energy development that respects both the land and the people who call it home.”
The BLM letter indicates the process is a departmental priority and that staff are available to consult with tribal leaders upon request. The agency plans an environmental assessment and will open a public comment period; one document referenced a 14-day window. The Interior Department previously said it takes tribal trust responsibilities seriously and will continue governmentto- government consultation.
Beyond the policy fight, Chaco remains one of the darkest places left on Earth in terms of light pollution.
The park is a gold-tier International Dark Sky Park. The nonprofit Chaco Culture Conservancy— which supports the park and Aztec Ruins—has funded more than 20 National Park Service projects since 2020 and plans to expand Indigenous-led tours, night-sky programs and lectures in the coming year, according to Executive Director Phoebe Redfield. While the United States plans to withdraw from UNESCO by the end of 2026, Redfield said the conservancy’s work is supported by grants and donations rather than UNESCO funding. The World Heritage recognition, she said, underscores Chaco’s universal value and “our responsibility to protect these places no matter what happens at the policy level.”
What Comes Next?
The BLM’s consultation and environmental review will determine whether the 2023 withdrawal stands, is scaled back, or is revoked. Pueblo leaders continue to advocate for full protection; the Navajo Nation seeks a narrower buffer and more thorough consultation; industry groups argue that the ban harms local economies; and legal experts warn that cutting corners on public process could invite new litigation.
For Cibola County, home to Acoma and Laguna Pueblos and deeply connected to Chaco’s story, the outcome will shape cultural stewardship, economic opportunity, and land-use decisions for decades. As Aguilar told reporters in September, likening Chaco to the nation’s capital: “This place is holy. It must be protected.”
Tl;dr 2014: BLM began amending its management plan for lands around Chaco, envisioning thousands of possible wells.
2023: Interior withdrew federal minerals from new leasing within 10 miles of the park for 20 years.
January 2025: Navajo Nation sued Interior, arguing inadequate consultation and urging consideration of a 5-mile alternative.
September 2025: Pueblo leaders and New Mexico Democrats rallied in Washington, D.C., to urge permanent protections.
Late October/early November 2025: BLM notified tribes it would consider three options—keep the 10-mile withdrawal, revoke it, or adopt a smaller buffer—and begin consultations and an environmental assessment, with public comment to follow.