The Trump administration is considering reopening federal lands around Chaco Canyon to mineral development, the New Mexico congressional delegation is reporting.

Friday, the delegation issued a news release condemning a decision to initiate the reversal of a Biden-era order that established a 10-mile buffer zone around Chaco Canyon where new oil and gas or mineral leasing is prohibited on federal lands.

Luis Soriano, a spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., on Monday told The New Mexican that although nothing has been published in the Federal Register yet, tribal leaders have started to receive notices about the plan to start the reversal process.

The Associated Press reported a letter sent to tribal leaders last week said the agency would evaluate three paths forward:

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