The Trump administration wants to reduce the size of the area surrounding Chaco Culture National Historic Park that has previously been withdrawn from available mining leases. An environmental assessment was released on July 15, 2026, triggering a 14-day comment period. Learn more and find a link to comment here…

On July 15, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a Draft Environmental Assessment related to a proposal to eliminate protections for over 336,000 acres surrounding Chaco Culture National Historic Park. This follows an initial scoping and seven-day comment period in the spring of 2026 that received over 100,000 comments in opposition to the proposed action. The public has just seven days left to read through the more than 70-page document and provide objective comments for or against the proposed alternatives.

Estimates suggest over 12,000 potential archaeological sites of significance to prehistoric and Native American history. In 2023, then-Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, herself a member of the Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico, signed an order withdrawing these lands from mining and other mineral leasing. This comes after years of collaboration with the Native American community related to the BLM’s handling of mineral exploration and leasing on tribal lands.

There are three proposals on the table:

• No Action Alternative: 10-mile buffer withdrawal remains in effect. Public Land Order No. 7923 would remain in effect, keeping approximately 336,404 acres closed to new mineral leasing and mineral entry for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights. 
• Alternative 1 (Proposed Action): Revoke the withdrawal in full. The Secretary or a designated Secretarial official may revoke the public land order in full, reopening all 336,404 acres to mining and mineral leasing. Management of mineral resources would conform to the provisions of the 2003 Farmington Resource Management Plan. 
• Alternative 2: Revoke the withdrawal to allow leasing and mining beyond a 5-mile buffer. The Secretary or a designated Secretarial official may revoke the public land order in part, reopening public lands beyond a 5-mile buffer around the park to both mining and mineral leasing. 

The BLM is proposing to remove the entire protected buffer. In either Alternative 1 or Alternative 2, the Tour Divide route would be impacted north and south of Pueblo Pintado, with lands and archeological sites under increasing pressure from mining and mineral interests.

Map showing the current protected area in blue; the partial reduction in purple

New Mexico Wild has a great summary of the action and a pre-filled submission form for you to take quick action. However, the federal agencies like the BLM usually only consider comments that touch on one of these elements:

• Missing data or corrections.
• Local knowledge of resources and uses.
• Specific analytical gaps.
• Reasonable alternatives or mitigation.
• Literature or references the agency can cite (e.g., studies, inventories, cultural resource documentation).

While it can’t hurt to send a passionate appeal to idealism and values, keep the items above in mind should you choose to submit your own comment. The Museum of Indigenous People has provided a lot of background and additional linked resources on this page. You can read the entire Draft Environmental Assessment and submit a formal comment in the Federal Register here.

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.