On Monday, President Joe Biden delivers an announcement to propose a ban on oil drilling in Northwest Mexico, one of the oldest Native American Sites. Chaco Canyon – the area in which is being drilled for gas and oil is known for being a sacred region to the Native Americans in that area. It holds great significance for indigenous people because it resembles a physical emblem in the history of many generations living and working there.
The Pueblo and the other Indigenous Groups have voiced their concern years ago about many of these oil and gas drilling operations intruding on their land, which is abundant of cultural and spiritual sites dating as far back to over a thousand years. While Congress has passed legislation to temporarily postpone new leasing on the area, the White House stated that the administration’s plan involves a 20-year restriction on such drilling in that region, which contains approximately 4,000 prehistoric and archaeological sites.
The decision, described by the administration, as creating a 10-mile buffer surrounding the park, will have no effect on existing leases or claims. Instead, the Bureau of Land Management will work to ensure that the development that occurs “avoids or minimizes” damage to protected areas. The proposal would be prohibiting new oil and gas leasing or mining claims on lands surrounding Chaco Canyon, which is currently protected as a National Historical Park, and therefore is not eligible for new oil and gas leasing or new mining claims. In addition, while this ban is meant to protect the sacred land, it also adds an advantage in the efforts put forth to reduce climate change and remain on track to prevent further damage.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group Blog. If you are in need of legal help, the CIMA Law Group is a law firm in Phoenix, Arizona which possesses expertise in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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