On April 9, 2019, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Deb Haaland introduced the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, S. 1079, a bill to withdraw the federal lands around Chaco Canyon from further mineral development.

The bill, alongside anticipated actions from New Mexico State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, would help ensure the protection of Chaco ruins and the greater landscape surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historical Park by preventing any future leasing or development of minerals owned by the U.S. government that are located within an approximately 10-mile protected radius around Chaco.

The lawmakers hosted a conference call to discuss the bill. Speakers include J. Michael Chavarria, the governor of the Pueblo of Santa Clara, and Jonathan Nez, the president of the Navajo Nation.

Photo of Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Culture National Historical Park by Andrew Kearns:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrew_kearns_photography/32311838250/