THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SALE OF OIL AND GAS LEASES NEAR CHACO CANYON AND IN OTHER AREAS SACRED TO NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES. CRITICS OF THE MOVE, INCLUDING TRIBAL LEADERS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS, CONTEND THEY WERE LOCKED OUT OF THE PROCESS BECAUSE THE B-L-M DIDN’T RELEASE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SALE DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
SENATOR TOM UDALL TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HE’S CONCERNED ABOUT THE ATTEMPT TO LEASE CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT LAND IN NEW MEXICO WITHOUT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN PLACE.
