New Mexico Wild Executive Director Mark Allison has issued the following statement in response to an announcement by President Joe Biden and the Department of the Interior that it is proposing a withdrawal of all federally-managed public lands within ten miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park from future oil and gas lease sales for the next 20 years and initiating a landscape-level assessment of oil and gas leasing in the region:

“The Department of the Interior’s proposal to remove the Greater Chaco region from the oil and gas leasing process is the right one and reflects a sea change in how the department approaches the federal leasing program and stakeholder engagement. With over 90 percent of this region already leased, the time is now to conserve lands cherished by the sovereign Pueblos and Tribes of New Mexico. This administrative withdrawal will buy more time to continue to push legislation to permanently protect these lands, the artifacts found on them, and the starry night skies above. It’s encouraging to see that Interior is now committed to involving Indigenous communities in its management decisions thanks to the leadership of Secretary Deb Haaland and President Biden. The announcement today begins a public comment period and we need everyone to raise up their voice in support.”