Sponsors (2)
The bill protects Chaco’s cultural, archaeological, and environmental values and strengthens Tribal roles and land protections, but does so by restricting federal mineral development—reducing local fossil-fuel–related jobs and revenue and creating potential legal and administrative costs.
Tribal communities, nearby residents, and visitors gain stronger protection for Chaco cultural, archaeological, and night-sky resources because federal lands around Chaco are withdrawn from new mining, leasing, and disposal.
Tribal governments and beneficiaries get expanded options to protect and manage lands (including conveyance/exchange authority and affirmed consultation standards), increasing Tribal input and co-management of protected areas.
Tribal members retain mineral rights on trust/allotted lands and certain VA trust lands are excluded from the withdrawal, preserving tribal ownership and control over those resources.
Local workers, small businesses, and county/state budgets may lose jobs and royalty/tax revenue because federal minerals in the withdrawal area are prevented from new leasing or are terminated.
Energy companies and existing leaseholders stand to lose development opportunities and investments if leases are covered, terminated, or become non-developable, harming companies and related supply-chain jobs.
The withdrawal and automatic lease terminations may prompt litigation, compensation claims, and legal uncertainty that could create costs for taxpayers and delay implementation.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Withdraws specified federal lands around Chaco from most mining and leasing, terminates certain nonproducing oil and gas leases, and preserves tribal mineral rights.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Ben Ray Luján · Last progress April 10, 2025
Withdraws specified federal lands around the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico from most mining, leasing, and land disposal; terminates certain nonproducing oil and gas leases; and preserves tribal mineral rights and limited community access for utilities and roads. The law requires the Bureau of Land Management to publish the official withdrawal map, allows the Interior Secretary to convey or exchange withdrawn lands with Tribes under approved resource plans, and protects existing valid rights.