Navajo Nation

Chaco Canyon was once a hub of indigenous civilization. Many cultural resources and sacred sights remain.

The Biden administration has called for a moratorium on oil and gas drilling. 

That’s good news for defenders of Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico.

Chaco Canyon is known for its Pueblo ruins, a collection of buildings and kivas that archaeologists are still trying to understand. The park is located in western New Mexico, in an area rich in oil and natural gas. During the Trump administration, drilling companies secured as many leases as they could on public lands around the park, in spite of low gas prices.

"So, the decision to hit pause and have a pause on new leases and re-evaluate is excellent news, especially for places like Chaco as well as helping our state reach the climate goals that it set," said Emily Wolf of the National Parks Conservation Association.

Industry officials say the Biden administration’s efforts to slow down oil and gas development will likely lead to job losses.