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Oil and Gas Auction for Land Near Chaco Back on Calendar

Jsordaz
/
Creative Commons

An auction of four oil and gas drilling parcels near Chaco Canyon has been scheduled by the Bureau of Land Management despite continued opposition from some local groups.

 

The Durango Herald reports the sale of over 800 acres has been postponed three times due to opposition from local environmental advocacy groups and tribal leaders.

But the BLM now plans to move forward with the January 25th lease auction, which will be held online. In its environmental assessment, the BLM states that energy development won’t have significant impacts on the land, located about 20 miles outside of Chaco Culture National Historical Site. However, environmental groups and tribal leaders say oil and gas development will harm sacred sites and impact the safety of locals. They are advocating for a more comprehensive review of public comments and environmental impacts. A coalition of tribal leaders plans to meet with the director of the New Mexico state BLM on Tuesday in hopes of further delaying the sale or canceling it outright. This sale follows last month’s cancellationof plans to build an oil and gas pipeline in the area.

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