H.R. 2861 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Natural Resources, Apr 10, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryProtects land around Chaco Canyon cultural site
This bill creates a protected area around Chaco Culture National Historic Park in New Mexico. Within that buffer zone, it stops the federal government from issuing new leases for oil, gas, mineral, or geothermal energy development, and it cancels any existing oil and gas leases that aren't currently producing.
How it affects you
If you live in New Mexico or own mineral rights in the area around Chaco, this change affects what can be developed on federal land there. Energy companies and developers looking to work in the buffer zone would be prevented from doing so, while people who value the park's cultural and historical significance would see it get additional protection.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Apr 10, 2025)
Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2025
This bill creates a buffer zone around the Chaco Culture National Historic Park in New Mexico by prohibiting certain leases on federal land for the development of mineral resources or geothermal energy within the buffer zone. Nonproducing oil and gas leases in the buffer zone are terminated.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 2861
A BILL
Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-3) · Introduced Apr 10, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 10, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.”