From Preservation Action:

The Trump administration is considering revoking a 20 year ban on oil and gas development in a 10 mile radius of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The Bureau of Land Management made the announcement in a letter to tribal leaders, saying that consultation on the withdrawal would soon begin with an expedited review process and an extremely short 14 day public comment period. The ban on development surrounding Chaco Canyon was put in place by President Biden after a robust two year process with significant public engagement and the support of local tribal leaders.

Chaco Canyon and the surrounding landscape contains irreplaceable ancestral sites and cultural patrimony from the Chacoan culture, including intact architecture, ceremonial buildings and distinctive great houses. The Chaco Culture National Historical Park, which was also designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, protects around 33,000 acres, but numerous archeological resources and irreplaceable cultural sites extend far beyond that. A survey completed in 2020 estimated that the 10 mile radius around the park contains more than 4,700 known Chacoan historical and cultural sites.

We strongly urge the administration to reconsider revoking this important protection and recommend any decision on the withdrawal only comes after a robust and meaningful consultation process.