I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2181 
To provide for the withdrawal and protection of certain Federal land in 
the State of New Mexico. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 9, 2019 
Mr. LUJA´N (for himself, Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico, Ms. HAALAND, 
and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To provide for the withdrawal and protection of certain 
Federal land in the State of New Mexico. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Chaco Cultural Herit-
age Area Protection Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) there are archeological, sacred, and historic 
resources located throughout the Greater Chaco re-
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gion, which spans the States of New Mexico, Ari-
zona, Utah, and Colorado; 
(2) the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, 
a unit of the National Park System and a United 
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organi-
zation World Heritage Site, is known around the 
world— 
(A) for multi-story buildings constructed 
by the Chacoan people that are still standing; 
and 
(B) as the nerve center of a culture that 
spread throughout and dominated the Four 
Corners area during the 9th, 10th, and 11th 
centuries; 
(3) the Chacoan people built hundreds of miles 
of roads and a network of villages, shrines, and com-
munications sites, many of which are still visible; 
(4) many Pueblos and Indian Tribes in the 
Four Corners area claim cultural affiliation with, 
and are descended from, the Chacoan people; 
(5) the landscape around the Chaco Culture 
National Historical Park includes hundreds of inter-
nationally and nationally significant cultural re-
sources, including prehistoric roads, communities, 
and shrines— 
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(A) many of which are related to the re-
sources found in the Chaco Culture National 
Historical Park, including the resources recog-
nized by the amendment made by section 3 of 
the Chacoan Outliers Protection Act of 1995 
(16 U.S.C. 410ii note; Public Law 104–11) 
providing for additional Chaco Culture Archeo-
logical Protection Sites; 
(B) a significant number of which are con-
centrated within the immediate area sur-
rounding the Chaco Culture National Historical 
Park; and 
(C) that are commonly recognized by ar-
cheologists; 
(6) long considered one of the best places for 
stargazing in the world, Chaco Culture National 
Historical Park— 
(A) in 1991, established a night skies pro-
tection initiative and interpretive program to 
protect the night sky in the area of the Chaco 
Culture National Historical Park; and 
(B) in 2013, was certified as an Inter-
national Dark Sky Park; 
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(7) the Greater Chaco landscape in the State of 
New Mexico extends beyond Chaco Culture National 
Historical Park and encompasses— 
(A) local communities, including Pueblos 
and Indian Tribes; and 
(B) public land, which includes additional 
cultural resources and sacred sites; 
(8) for over 110 years, the Federal Government 
has recognized the importance of the area in which 
the Chacoan people lived and has acted to protect 
historic and sacred sites in the area, including— 
(A) Chaco Canyon, which was designated 
as a National Monument in 1907 and as the 
Chaco Culture National Historical Park in 
1980; 
(B) the Aztec Ruins, which was designated 
as a National Monument in 1923 and expanded 
in each of 1928, 1930, 1948, and 1988; and 
(C) the 39 Chaco Culture Archeological 
Protection Sites designated in 1995; 
(9) recognizes that the standard for Tribal con-
sultation is outlined in Executive Order 13175 (25 
U.S.C. 5301 note; relating to consultation and co-
ordination with Indian Tribal governments); 
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(10) extensive natural gas development has oc-
curred in the Greater Chaco region that affect the 
health, safety, economies, and quality of life of local 
communities; 
(11) renewed interest in oil exploration and pro-
duction within the Mancos/Gallup Shale play has in-
creased the potential for— 
(A) significant impacts on resources and 
visitor experiences at the Chaco Culture Na-
tional Historical Park; and 
(B) additional impacts on local commu-
nities in the Greater Chaco region, including 
Pueblos and Indian Tribes; 
(12) a mineral withdrawal in the landscape 
around the Chaco Culture National Historical Park 
would prevent leasing and development in the imme-
diate area surrounding the Chaco Culture National 
Historical Park, which would protect resources and 
visitor experiences at the Chaco Culture National 
Historical Park; and 
(13) additional studies and protective measures 
should be undertaken to address health, safety, and 
environmental impacts on communities and interests 
of Pueblos and Indian Tribes in the Greater Chaco 
landscape. 
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SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COVERED
LEASE.—The term ‘‘covered 
lease’’ means any oil and gas lease for Federal 
land— 
(A) on which drilling operations have not 
been commenced before the end of the primary 
term of the applicable lease; 
(B) that is not producing oil or gas in pay-
ing quantities; and 
(C) that is not subject to a valid coopera-
tive or unit plan of development or operation 
certified by the Secretary to be necessary. 
(2) FEDERAL LAND.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘Federal 
land’’ means— 
(i) any Federal land or interest in 
Federal land that is within the boundaries 
of the Chaco Cultural Heritage Withdrawal 
Area, as depicted on the Map; and 
(ii) any land or interest in land lo-
cated within the boundaries of the Chaco 
Cultural Heritage Withdrawal Area, as de-
picted on the Map, that is acquired by the 
Federal Government after the date of en-
actment of this Act. 
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(B) 
EXCLUSION.—The 
term 
‘‘Federal 
land’’ does not include trust land (as defined in 
section 3765 of title 38, United States Code). 
(3) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map 
prepared by the Bureau of Land Management enti-
tled ‘‘Chaco Cultural Heritage Withdrawal Area’’ 
and dated April 2, 2019. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 4. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND IN THE 
STATE OF NEW MEXICO. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to any valid existing 
rights, the Federal land is withdrawn from— 
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and dis-
posal under the public land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent under mining 
laws; and 
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 
materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The Map shall be made 
available for inspection at each appropriate office of the 
Bureau of Land Management. 
(c) CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL LAND TO INDIAN 
TRIBES.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary 
may convey the Federal land to, or exchange the Federal 
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land with, an Indian Tribe in accordance with a resource 
management plan that is approved as of the date of enact-
ment of this Act, as subsequently developed, amended, or 
revised in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and 
any other applicable law. 
SEC. 5. OIL AND GAS LEASE MANAGEMENT. 
(a) TERMINATION OF NON-PRODUCING LEASES.—A 
covered lease— 
(1) shall automatically terminate by operation 
of law pursuant to section 17(e) of the Mineral 
Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(e)) and subpart 3108 
of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or suc-
cessor regulations); and 
(2) may not be extended by the Secretary. 
(b) WITHDRAWAL OF TERMINATED, RELINQUISHED, 
OR ACQUIRED LEASES.—Any portion of the Federal land 
subject to a covered lease terminated under subsection (a) 
or otherwise or relinquished or acquired by the United 
States on or after the date of enactment of this Act is 
withdrawn from— 
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and dis-
posal under the public land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent undermining 
laws; and 
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