VIEW LARGER Chaco Canyon was once a hub of Indigenous civilization. Many cultural resources and sacred sights remain.
The federal government released a new management plan for oil and gas drilling in the Greater Chaco Canyon area. Conservationists and some tribal members say it doesn't go far enough to protect the environment and cultural sites.
The Bureau of Land Management projects as many as 3,000 new oil and gas wells in the area surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park. That's 33 fewer wells than what was initially proposed.
In December, Congress passed a bill that gave tribes money to study impacts of fracking in the area for one year.
Mario Atencio, a spokesman for Diné CARE, said Chaco needs permanent protection.
"All the hazardous air pollutants, all the water, and toxic waste being dumped on lands in and around the greater Chaco landscape the main thing is we're worried about future generations," Atencio said.
Atencio refused to sign away his land but said he will likely be outnumbered by relatives who want a steady income.
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