Archaeology Southwest* Coalition to Protect America’s National
Parks*Conservation Lands Foundation*Continental Divide Trail
Coalition*Earth Keepers 360*Environment New Mexico*Gila Resources
Information Project*GreenLatinos*Heart of the Gila*National Parks
Conservation Association*Native Land Institute*Natural Resources Defense Council*New Mexico Wild*New Mexico Wildlife Federation*Partnership for Responsible Business*Sovereign Energy*
The Wilderness Society
April 7, 2026
SUBMITTED VIA E-PLANNING
Max Wiegmann & Sarah Scott
Bureau of Land Management
Farmington Field Office
6251 College Drive, Suite A
Farmington, NM 87402
Re: Scoping Comments on the Proposed Revocation of Public Land Order 7923; NEPA Number DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2026-0002-EA
Synopsis
A coalition of conservation, tribal-allied, archaeological, and public lands organizations has submitted formal comments opposing the Department of the Interior’s proposal to revoke or weaken Public Land Order 7923, the 20-year withdrawal that protects federal lands around Chaco Culture National Historical Park from new oil and gas leasing and certain mining activities. The coalition argues that reopening these lands would risk industrializing a culturally sacred landscape, harming archaeological resources, fragmenting wildlife habitat, and undermining years of tribal consultation and public engagement.
The letter states that the current revocation process is rushed and legally deficient, citing inadequate public notice, an extremely short comment period, and insufficient time for consultation with Pueblos and Tribes directly connected to the Chacoan landscape. It calls on the Bureau of Land Management to abandon the revocation effort, retain the existing withdrawal, and instead update the outdated Farmington Resource Management Plan. If Interior proceeds, the coalition says it must prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement, provide meaningful public participation, and comply fully with federal laws, including FLPMA, NEPA, and the National Historic Preservation Act.
Click here to read the full comment letter.