The meeting Tuesday at the centuries-old site in northwest New Mexico came at the urging of Democratic U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich amid a yearslong dispute about oil and gas development surrounding the park.
Legislation sponsored by Heinrich and other members of New Mexico’s all-Democratic congressional delegation would halt new oil and natural gas lease sales on federal land within a 10-mile buffer zone around the park’s ancient stone structures and avenues.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez has previously said that many tribes want a greater area around Chaco protected from industrial incursions.
Oil developers say robust protections already are in place.