FRACKING IN GREATER CHACO
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Farmington Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) Navajo Regional Office is undergoing an amendment to BLM's 2003 Resource Management Plan (RMP) to analyze horizontal fracking impacts in the Greater Chaco area. More Information about the leases
91% of public land in Northwest New Mexico is already leased to oil and gas interests, with over 40,000 wells. Most of the remaining 9% of unleased land is in the Greater Chaco area. Despite the lack of adequate tribal consultation, environmental review, or a comprehensive plan for horizontal fracking in the area, the BLM has approved over 400 new wells. This new form of industrialized fracking development threatens to further fragment the landscape and pollute our air and water resources, endangering the environment and local Navajo communities. The BLM admits to never analyzing the impacts of horizontal fracking across this landscape. Yet, the BLM continues leasing public land and approving fracking in the region, as evidenced by the January 25 lease sale of 843 more acres.
A month before the scoping period ended on January 25th, 2017, the Bureau of Land Management leased nearly 850 acres of land for drilling in northwest New Mexico, netting close to $3 million.
The parcels won't be released to the winning bidders until several protests filed against the leases have been resolved.
We're calling on supporters to target New Mexico Congressional district offices (especially Senator Udall), BLM field offices, and demonstrate or pray for all that is worth protecting. Meet with officials, send letters, take pictures, rally, and interrupt. Any action is a great action! Please host or attend an event so we can showcase broad support to Frack Off Greater Chaco.
See: Greater Chaco oil rights sell for $3 million despite protestsLEASES, COMMENTING & STUDIES
We are often asked if it's too late to comment or if the leases can be "bought back". Below is some general information about the process and where we go from here.
The lands auctioned off in the greater Chaco area are national, public lands. The Bureau of Land Management is the agency that manages public resources and lands for multiple uses, including fossil fuel extraction. They hold lease sales 4-times a year. To ensure that the land is used specifically for development, bidders who want to keep the land in its natural state are not allowed to bid at these lease auctions.
For any type of development that might have adverse effects on the environment, land, air, and communities, the BLM must comply with NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and have a management plan that includes best practices and mitigation planning. The plan must also include an Environmental Impact Statement. The current plan never analyzed horizontal fracking. It lacks best practices and mitigation planning for fracking impacts.
The current 2003 Resource Management Plan (RMP) does not analyze the impacts of horizontal fracking on the environment or people. It also lacks adequate tribal consultation. However, the BLM have admitted this much. This is why they are reopening the public scoping period to update this out of date plan. This is why it is important for you to submit comments to the BLM and demand they stop leasing lands and approving permits. Or at least place a moratorium on new leasing and approving permits until they have a completed plan.
Rather than slowing down, or placing a temporary halt on new development, the BLM is conducting individual Environmental Assessments (EAs) and tiering the EAs to the 2003 RMP. The EAs lack sufficient tribal consultation and exclude a thorough analysis of sacred sites and horizontal fracking impacts. The EAs consistently cite that fracking has no significant impacts to the environment or surrounding communities. This is the devious practice employed by the BLM that enables them to lease land and approve permits under the 2003 RMP. This process is how the 843 acres got approved to move forward.
Before the 843 acres can be developed, the BLM must address several protests comments filed against the sale. Until they are cleared, fracking cannot take place on these parcels.
OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME IN THE SAN JUAN BASIN
91% of public lands in northwest New Mexico are already leased for drilling… much of the last 9% is in Greater Chaco, and now the BLM wants to frack for oil and gas there, too.
San Juan Citizens Alliance has a guide with a lot of useful information.
Please visit their website to learn more.
- FRACKING SITES
VIDEO SERIES
While the River Healers were in New Mexico they droned multiple sites in the Greater Chaco Area impacted by fracking explosions, fires, spills, and methane.
The River Healers worked with members of the Navajo Nation to document fracking sites in the Greater Chaco Area. The region is known to the Diné (Navajo) as Dinétah, the land of their ancestors. It contains sacred sites and is home of the Bisti Badlands and Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a World Heritage Site. Surveyed sites were at various points of establishment. Some fracking wells were being established while others had already caused explosions, fires, and spills, threatening nearby communities and regional water security.
Courtesy of River Healers: New Mexico Chapter
- HEALTH
Frack Off Greater Chaco © 2016-2017-2018 | Email Us
Many of the photographs on this page are courtesy of:
©2016-2017 Evalyn Bemis Photography and may not be used without permission.