Project Name: Chaco Culture National Historical Park Area Withdrawal

NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2022-0011-OTHER_NEPA

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Project Information

NEPA Number

DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2022-0011-OTHER_NEPA
Project Name

Chaco Culture National Historical Park Area Withdrawal
Project Type
NEPA Status

Completed - Completed
Lead Office

Farmington Field Office
Last Updated

Project Description

The Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw approximately 336,000 acres of public lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws and from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights, for a 20-year term.  The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect the Chacoan landscape from potential impacts to the area’s existing natural, educational, and scientific research values, including paleontological study, and excavation.   Existing uses of the public lands may continue in accordance with their terms and conditions (except for the location or relocation of mining claims and the sale of new oil and gas leases) during the segregation period, including but not limited to livestock grazing, lawful ingress and egress to any valid or patented mining claims and mineral leases that may exist on these lands.  There may be continued use of all public lands and lawful access to non-federal lands and interest in lands, current recreational uses including hunting, camping and day use, and all commercial uses being conducted under special use permits. Temporary uses that may be permitted during the segregation period are leases, licenses, permits, rights-of-way, and other non-mineral uses consistent with the 2003 Farmington Resource Management Plan (as amended).   

Once the notice of proposed withdrawal was published in the Federal Register, the lands were segregated for up to two years from operation of the United States mineral laws.  The Federal Register notice also began a 120-day comment period for the public to comment on the withdrawal application.

What's New

6/7/223

Federal Register Notice and Public Land Order 7923 now available on Documents tab.

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PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS

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6/2/2023

Final EA and FONSI now available

12/11/2022

The public comment period closed on December 10, 2022. Comments are currently being reviewed and addressed as appropriate. Once comments are addressed, the Final EA will be posted to this site.

11/10/2022

The public comment period for the Chaco Area Withdrawal EA is open from November 10, 2022 through December 10, 2022.

How to provide comments:

-Click the "Participate Now" link to enter comments through this website

-Hand deliver or mail to:

BLM Farmington Field Office

Attn: Chaco Area Withdrawal

6251 College Blvd, Suite A

Farmington, NM 87402

Comments must be post marked by December 10, 2022

05/09/2022

The comment period for providing input on the Federal Register Notice regarding the proposed withdrawal closed on May 6, 2022. Additional opportunities for public participation will follow the development of the NEPA document (in progress).3/25/2022

The comment period on the proposed withdrawal has been extended 30 days and will now end on May 6, 2022.
Two additional public meetings have been scheduled to accept oral comments:
Wednesday, April 27th from 2pm-7pm at San Juan College in Farmington, NM and
Friday, April 29th from 8am-noon at the National Indian Programs Training Center in Albuquerque, NM.

All attendees must pre-register. Attendance is capped at 45 participants for each session, with a one session limit per individual. The meetings will follow current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department of the Interior COVID-19 large-group gathering protocols. All sessions will have a Navajo-language translator available. Contact Sarah Scott at 505-564-7689 or [email protected] to register.

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View the Feb 24, 2022 virtual public meeting here: Chaco Area Withdrawal Virtual Public Meeting, Feb 24, 2022

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Additional public meetings to accept oral comments are being planned. Date/time TBD.

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The Federal Register notice of withdrawal published on Jan. 6, 2022. Publication of the Federal Register notice temporarily segregates the affected lands for up to two years from location and entry under the United States mining laws and from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, but not disposal under the mineral materials laws, subject to valid existing rights.

The Federal Register notice initiates a 90-day public comment period on the withdrawal. The comment period will be open from Jan. 6 through April 6, 2022. Click the "Participate Now" text on the left side of the screen to submit a comment.

Three public meetings will be held: two in-person meetings in Farmington on Feb. 23 and one virtual meeting on Zoom on Feb. 24. Click the "How to Get Involved" text on the left side of the screen for more information on the public meetings. Please note, all current Center for Disease Control and Department of Interior COVID-19 guidance will be followed.

Project Location

City	State/Territory	Zip Code	County(ies)
Nageezi	New Mexico	87037	San Juan County

Application Information

Case File Number

NMNM144042
Program

Lands and Realty
Sub-Program

Withdrawals

Project Dates

Start Date

12/7/2021

Project Office Information

Lead Office

Farmington Field Office
Offices

Farmington FO

Contacts

Contact 1 Name

Sarah Scott
Contact 1 Email

[email protected]
Contact 1 Phone

(505) 564-7689