• Give & Join
  • Renew
    • Renew Your Membership
    • Member Circles and Benefits
    • Student Membership
    • Give a Gift Membership
    • More Ways to Help
    • Update Your Information
  • Take Action
    • Volunteer Program
    • Make Your Voice Heard
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Annual Reports
    • Position Openings
    • Team & People
    • Partners & Friends
    • Policies & Financials
  • Things to Do
    • Events
    • Archaeology Café Online
    • Exhibits
    • Classes
    • Field School
  • Explore
    • Free Resources
    • Introduction to Southwestern Archaeology
    • Projects
    • Protection Efforts
    • Ancient Cultures
    • Videos
    • Places to Visit
  • Store
    • Archaeology Southwest Magazine
    • All Products
  • News
    • Blog
    • Press Releases/Announcements
    • Preservation Archaeology Today
    • Sign up for E-News
  • Give & Join
  • Renew
    • Renew Your Membership
    • Member Circles and Benefits
    • Student Membership
    • Give a Gift Membership
    • More Ways to Help
    • Update Your Info
  • Take Action
    • Volunteer Program
    • Make Your Voice Heard
X
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Annual Reports
    • Position Openings
    • Team & People
    • Partners and Friends
    • Policies and Financials
  • Things to Do
    • Events
    • Archaeology Café Online
    • Exhibits
    • Classes
    • Field School
  • Explore
    • Free Resources
    • SW Archaeology 101
    • Projects
    • Protection Efforts
    • Ancient Cultures
    • Videos
    • Places to Visit
  • Store
    • Archaeology Southwest Magazine
    • All Products
  • News
    • Blog
    • Press Releases/Announcements
    • Preservation Archaeology Today
    • Sign up for E-News

Archaeology Southwest Commends Administration’s Formal Moves to Protect Greater Chaco

news, Press Releases/Announcements
  • Home
  • >
  • Press Releases/Announcements
  • >
  • Archaeology Southwest Commends Administration̵...

Taos, N.M. (January 5, 2022)—This morning, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) took important steps toward permanently protecting the cultural landscape within 10 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park when the agency formally proposed to withdraw approximately 351,000 acres of public lands surrounding the Park. This builds on years of work by Pueblos, Tribes, advocates, and elected officials, and follows President Biden’s announcement on November 15 of “new efforts to protect the Chaco Canyon and the greater connected landscape, and to ensure that public land management better reflects the sacred sites, stories, and cultural resources in the region,” according to the BLM’s press release. The proposed withdrawal would bar new federal oil and gas leasing on those lands, but would not affect existing valid leases or rights.

In addition, the BLM has initiated a 90-day public comment period, announced several public meetings, and is set to undertake formal Tribal consultation. Moreover, “the BLM and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will also be initiating a broader assessment of the Greater Chaco cultural landscape to explore ways the Interior Department can manage existing energy development, honor sensitive areas important to Tribes and communities, and build collaborative management frameworks toward a sustainable economic future for the region.”

In response, Paul F. Reed, Preservation Archaeologist and Chaco Scholar at Archaeology Southwest, released the following statement:

“I am excited today to see that the Bureau of Land Management formally proposed to withdraw approximately 351,000 acres of public lands surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park, and plans to undertake a comprehensive landscape assessment of oil and gas development in the region. The BLM’s proposal will dramatically reduce the threat that drilling poses to this one-of-a-kind place, and it will help better protect the irreplaceable historic and cultural resources found in the region. Leaders from New Mexico’s Pueblos have been calling for the federal government to take this step for years, and I commend Secretary Haaland and the Biden administration for honoring their requests.”

###

About Archaeology Southwest

Archaeology Southwest is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Tucson, Arizona, that explores and protects heritage places while honoring their diverse values. For three decades, Archaeology Southwest has worked to break down barriers to understanding, respecting, celebrating, and finding inspiration in these places. Learn more at archaeologysouthwest.org.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore the News

  • Preservation Archaeology Blog
  • Press Releases/Announcements
  • Preservation Archaeology Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 5, 2022

Press Contact: Paul F. Reed

preed@archaeologysouthwest.org

Image: Drill Pad with Pierre’s site in the background.

Related to This

  • Project Protecting the Greater Chaco L...
  • Post Now Showing: Protecting Chaco&...

Involved

Paul F. Reed

Related Posts

  • Cultural Conservatism in the Ancient Southwest – Research on the Edge of Salado

  • The Story of Florence Lister: Heroine of Southwestern Archaeology

  • Southwest Archaeology Today for Nov 2, 2009

Want to help us? Make a donation

or take action

© 2020 Archaeology Southwest
Formerly the Center for Desert Archaeology

520.882.6946
Contact
  • Donor Portal
  • My Store Account
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Press Room