S. 1412 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Apr 10, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBlocks energy development near Chaco Canyon park
This bill creates a protective zone around Chaco Culture National Historic Park in New Mexico. Within that zone, it stops the government from issuing new leases for mining or geothermal energy development on federal land. It also cancels any oil and gas leases in the zone that aren't currently producing.
How it affects you
This mainly affects energy companies and people in New Mexico involved in oil, gas, and mineral development. If you own an inactive oil or gas lease in the buffer zone, that lease would be terminated. For most Americans, this is primarily about protecting a historic cultural site.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, 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 SessionS. 1412
A BILL
Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) · 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: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.”