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Chaco Cultural Heritage Protection: Ban on Oil and Gas Development.

This law permanently protects federal lands surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico by banning new oil, gas, and mineral extraction activities. The goal is to safeguard invaluable archaeological sites, sacred tribal lands, and the natural environment, including a designated International Dark Sky Park. This measure offers local communities, especially Native American Tribes, greater protection for their health and cultural heritage against intensive extractive industries.
Key points
Development Ban: Federal lands in the designated Chaco area are permanently withdrawn from oil, gas, mining, and geothermal leasing.
Cultural Preservation: The change protects hundreds of archaeological sites and sacred areas important to the Navajo, Hopi, and Pueblo Tribes.
Lease Termination: Non-producing or unused oil and gas leases on these specific federal lands will automatically terminate.
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_S_1404
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Process start date: 2023-05-02
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2023

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_S_1404.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-05-02.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Development Ban: Federal lands in the designated Chaco area are permanently withdrawn from oil, gas, mining, and geothermal leasing.
  • Cultural Preservation: The change protects hundreds of archaeological sites and sacred areas important to the Navajo, Hopi, and Pueblo Tribes.
  • Lease Termination: Non-producing or unused oil and gas leases on these specific federal lands will automatically terminate.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

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Environment Media and Culture