Guardians, allies condemn Trump administration fracking scheme

Tribal governments, thousands of people, and more than a dozen groups representing more than five million members have called on the Trump administration to cancel its plans to lease nearly 15,000 acres of tribal and federal public lands in New Mexico for fracking this February—including in the beleaguered Greater Chaco region.

More than a dozen groups submitted extensive comments on the auction proposal, which includes nearly 1,500 acres located within 20 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park and 13,000 acres in close proximity to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Though a court ruling this May held that the Bureau of Land Management illegally approved oil and gas drilling in Greater Chaco, the agency has continued to offer more land for sale, despite the fact that it has not conducted an adequate environmental analysis of how fracking affects water supplies, community health, air quality, climate, and cultural integrity.

Read the press release.

About the Author

WildEarth Guardians | ,

Read more from