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119-s-1412119th Congress

Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Withdraws federal land around Chaco from oil and gas leasing. The bill would set a Bureau of Land Management withdrawal map, automatically terminate certain non‑producing oil and gas leases, and allow land conveyances or exchanges with Indian Tribes under existing land‑management law.

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  • Nearby communities: Preserves access to essential infrastructure by allowing rights‑of‑way for water, power, utilities, and roads needed to serve adjacent or nearby communities.
  • Indian Tribes: Enables conveyance or exchange of federal land with Tribes when done under a resource management plan that complies with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and other law.
  • Leaseholders and industry: Oil and gas leases in the withdrawal area that have not begun drilling and are not producing would automatically terminate by operation of law and may not be extended.
  • Federal land management: The Bureau of Land Management must make the named "Proposed Withdrawal Chaco Culture National Historic Park Surrounding Area" map available for inspection and the withdrawal covers federal land within that map, including land acquired after enactment but excluding trust land.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

BLM must publish the Chaco map

If enacted, the Bureau of Land Management would make the Withdrawal Map available for inspection at each appropriate BLM office. The map is titled "Proposed Withdrawal Chaco Culture National Historic Park Surrounding Area" and is dated January 6, 2022. The requirement would take effect upon enactment.

Stop oil and gas leasing near Chaco

If enacted, this bill would withdraw Federal land in the Chaco Cultural Heritage Withdrawal Area from most oil, gas, mining, and geothermal leasing. Leases in the area that had not started drilling by the end of their primary term and are not producing would automatically terminate and could not be extended. The Secretary could convey or exchange Federal land with an Indian Tribe under an approved resource management plan. The withdrawal would not affect tribal mineral rights on trust or allotment land. The rule would not block rights-of-way or improvements for water, power, utilities, or roads needed by nearby communities.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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