Time is running out

I am connecting with Santa Fe as a member of one of New Mexico’s Pueblo communities, a citizen of the state of New Mexico, a Vietnam-era veteran and a community-conscious concerned citizen.

I call your attention to the announcement from the Farmington field office of the Bureau of Land Management as it continues to press forward with a draft Resource Management Plan amendment that “will” have significant and detrimental environmental and societal ramifications to Chaco Culture National Historic Park residents, human and other living species; the overall environment; and most importantly, the intimate historical and cultural bonds of the region. This, despite concerns raised by New Mexico and other states’ congressional delegations, the Navajo Nation, the All Pueblo Council of Governors, other Indigenous communities and many like conscious-minded residents of New Mexico, let alone inhabitants of Earth. Time is running out to prevent permanent damage to the Greater Chaco Region. The public comment period on this plan ends Friday, Sept. 25. Submit a public comment at protectchaco.org and urge the BLM to suspend this planning process until all affected communities can safely and adequately participate.

Jon Ghahate Placitas