John,

The Biden administration recently announced an executive order to protect over 350,000 acres of land from oil and gas drilling over the next 20 years within a 10-mile radius of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

Because over 40,000 oil and gas wells have already been drilled around Chaco Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the president's proposal is a good first step towards stopping further drilling in the region. But additional protections are needed to address the negative impacts the oil and gas industry has already caused in the wider area.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently accepting public comments on the Chaco Canyon proposal until April 6, 2022 – make sure they hear from you!

Urge the BLM to approve the president's plan and to address the damage already done to Chaco Canyon by the oil and gas industry.

Even though the Greater Chaco Canyon region is one of the most important archeological sites in the U.S and is home to many Indigenous communities, 91% of the area has been leased for oil and gas activities.

President Biden's proposal to curtail the leasing of public lands for oil and gas drilling in Chaco would be progress towards protecting communities and addressing the climate crisis. But a larger, comprehensive plan for the Greater Chaco region is also necessary.

Submit your comment to BLM demanding a long-term plan to end drilling in the Greater Chaco region and address the decades of damage already caused by the oil and gas industry.

Thanks for taking action, 

Jorge Aguilar
Southern Region Director
Food & Water Watch