Bill · H.R. 2861· House(119-HR-2861)
Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 4/10/2025
- Last activity
- 4/10/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Teresa Leger Fernandez
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2025 aims to withdraw and protect certain Federal lands in the State of New Mexico. This legislation targets the area surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historical Park to protect significant cultural, archeological, and sacred resources. The bill would withdraw these lands from mining, mineral leasing, and geothermal leasing laws. It also includes provisions for the automatic termination of certain non-producing oil and gas leases. Additionally, the Act allows for the potential conveyance of Federal land to Indian Tribes.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+8
The bill provides significant protections for cultural landscapes and mitigates impacts from natural gas development.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+8
The bill protects sacred lands and allows for the conveyance of land to Indian Tribes.
Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced?+7
The act terminates non-producing leases and prevents new mineral and geothermal leasing.
The opposite· 3 of 5
Would business owners be better off under this?-3
The withdrawal restricts mineral and geothermal leasing, impacting energy sector businesses.
Is this likely to lower the price at the pump?-2
The restriction on new oil and gas leasing could potentially impact long-term energy supply and prices.
Is this likely to create jobs?-2
The restriction on mineral leasing may reduce potential jobs in the energy sector.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of Cultural and Sacred Sites: The bill seeks to protect archeological, sacred, and historic resources, such as prehistoric roads, communities, and shrines, found in the Greater Chaco region (Section 2).
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Preservation of Visitor Experiences: By implementing a mineral withdrawal, the bill aims to protect the holistic experience of the sacred landscape and the visitor experiences at the Chaco Culture National Historical Park (Section 2).
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Support for Local Communities and Tribes: The Act allows the Secretary to convey or exchange Federal land with an Indian Tribe (Section 4(c)). It also protects the ability to develop water, power, utility, or road rights-of-way to assist adjacent communities (Section 4(e)(2)).
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Mitigation of Industrial Impacts: The bill addresses concerns regarding natural gas development that affects the health, safety, economies, and quality of life of local communities (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Termination of Oil and Gas Leases: Under this Act, "covered leases"—defined as oil or gas leases where drilling has not commenced before the end of the primary term and which are not producing in paying quantities—will automatically terminate and may not be extended (Section 3 and Section 4(d)(1)).
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Restriction of Land Use: The withdrawal restricts the land from all forms of entry, appropriation, disposal, and the operation of mineral, material, and geothermal leasing laws (Section 4(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+8Improves Public Land Management+7Reduces Fossil Fuel Production+7Improves Rural Development+3Reduces Carbon Emissions+2Reduces Gas Prices-2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+8Good For Rural Residents+2Good For Business Owners-3Good For Union Workers-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+4
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation-2Improves Economic Growth-1
- 4/10/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico