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NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2026-0002-EA
Project Name: Evaluation of Potential Revocation of Chaco Withdrawal

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Project Information

NEPA Number

DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2026-0002-EA
Project Name

Evaluation of Potential Revocation of Chaco Withdrawal
Project Type

EA
NEPA Status

In Progress - Public Scoping Period
Lead Office

Farmington Field Office
Last Updated

3/31/2026 5:00:00 PM

Project Description

NOTE: To comment during the scoping or comment period, please click the "Participate Now" button at the top of the page.  Scoping ends April 7.

The Secretary of the Interior proposes to revoke the withdrawal of up to approximately 336,425 acres of public lands located within a radius of approximately 10 miles surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park (CCNHP) in San Juan County, northwestern New Mexico. Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7923 established a withdrawal in 2023 which withdrew these 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.
 
Revocation of the PLO No. 7923 withdrawal would restore discretion over mineral leasing to the Bureau of Land Management and would re-open that public land to location and entry under the United States mining laws. It is important to note that the land in question was not withdrawn from disposal under the Materials Act of 1947, which largely concerns the sale of common-variety sand, gravel, and other such commodities from federal land.

The BLM will prepare an environmental assessment that will analyze the following alternatives, which may be refined based on input received during the scoping process:
 
No Action Alternative: 10-mile buffer withdrawal remains in effect
Public Land Order No. 7923 would remain in effect, keeping approximately 336,404 acres closed to new mineral leasing and mineral entry for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights.
 
Alternative 1 (Proposed Action): Revoke the withdrawal in full   
The Secretary or appropriate Secretarial official would revoke the public land order in full, reopening all 336,404 acres to mineral leasing and to location and entry under the U.S. mining laws. Management of mineral resources would conform to the provisions of the 2003 Farmington Resource Management Plan.
 
Alternative 2: Revoke the withdrawal to allow leasing and mining beyond a 5-mile buffer
The Secretary or appropriate Secretarial official would revoke the public land order in part, reopening public lands beyond a 5-mile buffer around Chaco Culture National Historical Park to both mineral leasing and location and entry under the U.S. mining laws.
 
A scoping period will be held, intended to gather input on the scope of the environmental analysis and potential issues to be considered. A subsequent comment period on a Draft EA will follow.

NOTE: To comment during the scoping or comment period, please click the "Participate Now" button at the top of the page. Scoping ends April 7.

What's New

NOTE: To comment during the scoping or comment period, please click the blue Participate Now button at the top of the page. Scoping ends April 7.

Project Location

City	State/Territory	Zip Code	County(ies)
Farmington	New Mexico	87401	San Juan

Application Information

Program

Lands and Realty
Sub-Program

Withdrawals

Project Dates

Start Date

3/31/2026

Project Office Information

Lead Office

Farmington Field Office
Offices

Farmington FO

Contacts

Contact 1 Name

BLM Press/Media Inquiries
Contact 1 Email

[email protected]
Contact 1 Phone

000-000-0000

Contact 2 Name

Max Wiegmann
Contact 2 Email

[email protected]
Contact 2 Phone

(505) 564-7600

Contact 3 Name

Sarah Scott
Contact 3 Email

[email protected]
Contact 3 Phone

(505) 564-7689