Trump admin opens 7‑day period for Chaco drilling
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- Trump administration began a 7‑day public scoping period on Tuesday for its proposal to open the Greater Chaco Region to oil and gas drilling.
- Public Land Order 7923—finalized in 2023—protects 336,400 acres around Chaco Culture National Historical Park from industrial development for 20 years, and the administration seeks to overturn it.
- Comment period for the drilling proposal is limited to 7 days, far shorter than the usual 30‑ or 60‑day periods for leasing proposals.
- Oil and gas leasing would be permitted within 10 miles of the park’s boundaries, including lands directly bordering the park, threatening irreplaceable cultural resources.
- Diane Reese, ExCom Chair of the Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter, condemned the plan, saying it threatens community health, the sacred landscape, and relationships with Tribal Nations.
- Sierra Club is America’s largest grassroots environmental organization, working to protect outdoor access, promote clean energy, safeguard community health, protect wildlife, and preserve wild places.
Why it matters: The move strips Tribal nations and nearby communities of the legal shield protecting 336,400 acres of cultural heritage, while opening a lucrative leasing frontier for oil and gas operators within ten miles of a national historic park, shifting control from preservation advocates to extractive interests.
