BLM changes NPR-A policies to encourage oil & gas development
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Alan Bailey for Petroleum News
The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced that the Bureau of Land Management is rescinding three policy documents that the Biden administration had issued to increase restrictions on activities in special areas in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Coming in the wake of BLM's moves to change the integrated activity plan and the overlying regulations for the reserve, the policy changes are designed to open up more of the reserve for oil and gas exploration and development.
The special areas are regions of particular environmental sensitivity that are subject to specific environmental protection rules. The Biden administration had made several moves to increase restrictions associated with oil and gas activities in these areas.
The policy documents being rescinded consist of a request for information regarding special areas published in July 2024, a report on maximizing protections in the reserve published in January 2025 and a memorandum regarding BLM interim management of special areas also published in January 2025.
DOI says that the documents were developed without sufficient deference to statutory direction, economic realities or the voices of Alaskans. The agency also says that the documents threatened unnecessary restrictions on access to vital domestic energy resources.
"Alaska's resource potential has been held hostage for years by anti-development ideologues," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. "The Trump administration is delivering certainty for industry, opportunity for Alaskans and real energy security for the American people. We are committed to putting development back at the center of land management where it belongs."
DOI argues that Alaskans, especially those living and working on the North Slope, have opposed the hindrance to responsible energy development from the expansion of special areas. The agency commented that the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, the primary federal statute governing the management of NPR-A, "directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement an expeditious program of oil and gas leasing while protecting surface values to the extent consistent with the exploration, development and transportation of oil and gas."
"By lifting these burdensome restrictions, the Trump administration is reaffirming its commitment to restoring commonsense land management, prioritizing national energy independence and empowering Alaskans to benefit from the responsible development of vast resources under their feet," DOI said.
Alaska lawmakers supported DOI's actions.
"This latest announcement builds on the progress we have made throughout this year to return to the rule of law for resource development in Alaska. While the last administration sought to shut down our petroleum reserve -- and refused to meaningfully consult with the Alaska Natives who actually live on the North Slope -- Secretary Burgum and his team are decisively correcting that course," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski. "These rescissions are another key step to restoring balanced management that provides renewed opportunity to explore for and responsibly produce the NPR-A's prolific resources."
"For four years the Biden administration and their far-left eco-colonialist allies fought to lock up the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska, one of the most prolific oil basins in the world specifically set aside by Congress for responsible resource development," said Sen. Dan Sullivan. "But under the Trump administration, it is a new day filled with opportunity for Alaskans."
"This announcement builds upon the tremendous strides we have made to open up Alaska for responsible resource development and puts us on a path towards a more secure energy future," said Rep. Nick Begich. "The Biden Administration's relentless and unlawful attempts to lock up Alaska's abundant resources and shut down our strategic petroleum reserves weakened our national energy independence and stifled economic opportunity. The rescission of these misguided policies marks an important course correction for our state."
--ALAN BAILEY
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