No firm date has been announced for a final decision on the 10-mile mineral withdrawal
CHACO CANYON, N.M. – The public comment period closes Wednesday, July 29, on a federal proposal that could leave existing protections around Chaco Culture National Historical Park in place, reduce them or revoke them entirely.
The Bureau of Land Management is reviewing Public Land Order No. 7923, which in 2023 withdrew approximately 336,404 acres of federal land within 10 miles of the park from new mineral leasing and mining claims for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights.
The order does not cancel existing leases and does not apply to state, private, Tribal trust or individual allotment lands.
BLM’s Draft Environmental Assessment Considers Three Alternatives
Under the No Action Alternative, the current 10-mile withdrawal would remain in place.
Under the agency’s Proposed Action, the withdrawal would be revoked in full, reopening all 336,404 acres to mineral leasing and mining under the 2003 Farmington Resource Management Plan.
A third alternative would retain protections within five miles of the park while reopening federal lands between five and 10 miles from the park.
The BLM has identified full revocation as its proposed action, but the designation does not represent a final decision.
Pueblo governments, including Acoma and Laguna, have urged the agency to select the No Action Alternative and keep the full 10-mile buffer. Pueblo leaders have argued that the surrounding landscape is culturally and spiritually connected to Chaco and have criticized the 14-day comment period as inadequate for meaningful Tribal consultation.
The Navajo Nation has previously challenged the process used to establish the 10-mile withdrawal, arguing that federal officials did not sufficiently consider the economic effect on Navajo allottees who receive oil and gas royalties or fully evaluate a smaller buffer.
What Happens After July 29
After the comment period closes, the BLM will review the submissions and determine whether the draft environmental assessment should be revised.
The agency may then finalize its environmental analysis and forward the matter for a decision by the secretary of the Interior or another designated Interior Department official.
No firm date has been announced for that decision.
The final action could keep the existing 10-mile withdrawal, reduce it to five miles or revoke it entirely. Additional administrative or legal challenges could follow, depending on the outcome.
How to Comment
Comments may be submitted through the BLM National NEPA Register at eplanning.blm.gov.
Search for project number: DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2026-- 0002-EA Select “Participate Now” on the project page.
Written comments may also be mailed or delivered to: BLM Farmington Field Office Attn: PLO 7923 6251 College Blvd., Suite A Farmington, NM 87402 Comments must be received by July 29, 2026.