Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation have called on U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to halt the process of revoking Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7923, which currently provides protections against oil and gas drilling in the area surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Ben Ray Luján, and Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, Melanie Stansbury—who is also a member of the House Natural Resources Committee—and Gabe Vasquez sent a letter to Secretary Burgum expressing concern over the Department’s recent actions.
“Since your confirmation as Secretary of the Interior, we have been in constant, direct communication with you about the importance of protecting the cultural landscape around Chaco Culture National Historical Park (CCNHP),” they wrote. “We have invited you to follow in your predecessors’ footsteps and visit New Mexico to conduct robust Tribal consultation and community outreach before taking any action on the existing mineral withdrawal around Chaco. Unfortunately, we are writing to express extreme disappointment about the expedited actions the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have taken to formally initiate the process of revoking Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7923, which currently protects a 10-mile buffer around CCNHP.”
The lawmakers emphasized that federal law requires meaningful consultation with Tribal governments before making decisions that could affect historic properties. They referenced Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and BLM’s own guidelines, which call for at least a 30-day comment period for Tribes and encourage extending this timeline when necessary.
“Tribes are sovereign governments, and you have a legal trust obligation to Tribal leaders to operate with the highest responsibility and trust, which is not reflected by your expedited actions and unclear directions,” they stated.
The letter highlighted that Chaco Canyon holds significant cultural value for Tribes across New Mexico. The area contains thousands of archaeological sites within its protected zone. The lawmakers warned that removing these protections could put these sites at risk from development activity.
“Chaco Canyon is a sacred cultural landscape central to the identity of Tribes throughout New Mexico. The value of this living landscape does not end at the park boundary. It stretches for miles throughout the greater Chacoan landscape, where Pueblo communities continue to conduct pilgrimages and share stories with current and future generations. Reversing PLO No. 7923 places this heritage at risk,” they wrote.
They further noted that establishing PLO No. 7923 involved an extensive process lasting two-and-a-half years with multiple opportunities for public input, including an initial 120-day comment period.
The lawmakers concluded: “Your legal and moral responsibility as trustee to these Tribes requires your direct attention and involvement in this issue and for meaningful engagement with the Tribes before any action is taken.”
