It’s been two years since United States Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the Honoring Chaco Initiative, a multiphase plan with the potential to transform how land stewardship decisions about mineral extraction, remediation and cleanup of extraction sites on federally controlled lands are made in the Greater Chaco Region of northern New Mexico. But members of the Greater Chaco Coalition are worried there have been no signs of life since Phase 1 was completed and a report detailing its activities was issued by consultants a year ago.

Formed in 2014 to confront the oil production boom fueled by horizontal drilling technology and high oil prices, the coalition comprises Indigenous community leaders, Native groups, nonprofits, and public Land and Water Protectors. On November 14, the coalition issued a call for the Biden administration to follow through with honoring Chaco.

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