Chaco Canyon Bill Bans New Oil & Gas Leases on Federal Land, Automatically Cancels Non-Producing Ones

The Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2025 is straightforward: it puts a big, bold fence around specific federal lands in New Mexico near the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, effectively stopping new oil, gas, and mineral leasing activity there. This move is all about protecting an area that Congress recognizes as being packed with ancient, sacred, and historical sites—a lifeline for numerous Pueblo Indian Tribes and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Drawing the Line in the Desert

This legislation uses a specific map—the "Withdrawal Map" dated January 6, 2022—to define exactly which federal acres are now off-limits. Unless someone already has a valid existing right, this land is withdrawn, meaning you can’t stake a new mining claim, lease it for geothermal energy, or, crucially, lease it for new oil and gas drilling. This is the bill’s core action, designed to shield the area from the pressures of resource extraction that Congress notes have been impacting the health and cultural integrity of nearby communities, including the Navajo Nation.

The Automatic Lease Termination Clause

Here’s where the bill gets specific about existing business interests. If an oil or gas lease on this withdrawn federal land is a “covered lease”—meaning it’s not currently producing oil or gas effectively and the drilling hasn’t started by the time the initial lease term expires—it’s automatically terminated by law. Think of it this way: if you’re a company holding a speculative lease, hoping to drill later, this bill pulls the plug. The Secretary of the Interior is explicitly barred from extending these non-producing leases. This provision clears the books of dormant leases, which is great for environmental clarity but definitely bad news for companies counting on future revenue from those specific holdings.

Protecting Culture and Community Needs

While the bill is tough on resource extraction, it makes sure to protect two key groups. First, it explicitly states that the withdrawal does not mess with existing mineral rights belonging to any Indian Tribe or members of the Navajo Nation regarding their trust lands. Second, it allows for the continued improvement and construction of necessary infrastructure—think water lines, power lines, and roads—if those projects are meant to help the communities located near the federal land. This means that local residents won't be blocked from getting essential services just because the surrounding area is protected. Furthermore, the Secretary of the Interior keeps the power to transfer or exchange this federal land to an Indian Tribe if it aligns with existing resource management plans, acknowledging the deep cultural connection these groups have to the area.