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HR2861119th Congress

Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a protected Chaco Cultural Heritage Withdrawal Area by withdrawing federal land around Chaco Culture National Historical Park from public‑land, mining, and mineral‑leasing laws and authorizing the Interior to convey or exchange some withdrawn lands to Indian Tribes under an approved resource management plan.

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  • Indian Tribes can receive or exchange withdrawn federal land under a resource management plan, giving tribes a direct way to protect culturally and spiritually important sites.
  • Withdraws the marked area from new oil, gas, mining, geothermal, and most leasing activity to shield archaeological sites, sacred places, local communities, and the park’s dark skies from further development. It keeps tribal mineral rights intact and allows rights‑of‑way for water, power, utilities, and roads to serve nearby communities.
  • Non‑producing federal oil and gas leases that meet the bill’s “covered lease” definition are automatically terminated and cannot be extended, reducing the pool of potential new development around the park.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Defines the Chaco withdrawal area map

If enacted, the bill would spell out which lands count as federal land in the withdrawal area. It would use an official BLM map dated January 6, 2022, and make it available at BLM offices. It would include land the federal government buys later, but it would exclude trust land.

Keeps utilities and tribal mineral rights

If enacted, the bill would still allow rights‑of‑way and upgrades for water, power, utilities, and roads on the withdrawn federal land when they serve nearby communities. It would not change tribal or individual mineral rights on trust or allotment land. Mineral rights for Tribes and Navajo allottees would remain in place.

Limits on drilling and mining near Chaco

If enacted, the bill would block new mining claims and new oil, gas, and geothermal leases on certain federal land around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. It would not change valid existing rights. Non‑producing oil and gas leases that did not start drilling by the end of their primary term would automatically end, and the Secretary could not extend them. Any federal land bought later, or lease areas that end or are relinquished, would also be closed to new leasing.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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