1. United States
2. Hawaii
3. Letter

Subject: Please Oppose Removal of Protections for Chaco Culture National Historical Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Dear Senator [Schatz / Hirono] / Representative [Case / Tokuda], I am writing as a concerned constituent from Honolulu, Hawaii, to urge you to strongly oppose the Trump administration’s proposal to rescind the 10-mile protective buffer around Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico. This would open federal public lands in the Greater Chaco Landscape to new oil and gas leasing and drilling. The public comment period closes on July 29, 2026, and I ask that you take immediate action to protect this irreplaceable site. Chaco Canyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant archaeological and cultural treasures in the United States. It holds profound historical, spiritual, and cultural importance to Native American tribes, including the Pueblos, Hopi, and Navajo. The surrounding landscape contains thousands of unexcavated cultural sites, ancient roads, and sacred places that have endured for over a thousand years. Removing the buffer would expose the park and these resources to industrial development, including noise, light pollution, traffic, air and water contamination, and irreversible damage to this sacred heritage. Public lands belong to all Americans, and we have a responsibility to preserve sites of such outstanding universal value for future generations rather than prioritizing short-term extraction. I respectfully request that you: • Publicly oppose the rollback of protections for the Greater Chaco Region. • Support permanent legislative protections for Chaco Canyon and its cultural landscape. • Urge the Bureau of Land Management to maintain the existing withdrawal and buffer zone. • Vote against any measures that would facilitate expanded fossil fuel development in this sensitive area. Hawaii’s own natural and cultural treasures remind us of the importance of responsible stewardship. I believe we must lead by example in protecting our shared national heritage. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your leadership in defending Chaco Canyon and would appreciate any update on your position. Sincerely,