The Department of the Interior has taken a step towards enhancing American energy independence by proposing to expand oil and gas development in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve. A draft analysis, now open for public comment, suggests reopening up to 82% of the 23-million-acre reserve for leasing and development. This move aligns with the Trump administration's focus on Energy Dominance and regulatory reform.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is updating its Integrated Activity Plan based on the 2020 framework for managing the reserve. The draft environmental assessment incorporates recent data and supports Executive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422, which aim to maximize Alaska's resources to bolster U.S. energy and economic security.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Adam Suess stated, "This plan is about creating more jobs for Americans, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and tapping into the immense energy resources the National Petroleum Reserve was created to deliver." He emphasized that under President Trump's leadership, there is a focus on cutting red tape and restoring policies that ensure responsible development of public lands.
The reserve was designated by Congress for oil and gas exploration during the 1970s energy crisis due to its strategic importance in national energy policy. Managed by BLM under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, it requires a competitive leasing program while protecting essential surface resources.
Additionally, this proposal aims to overturn restrictive regulations such as the planned rescission of a 2024 rule limiting leasing in the reserve. This ensures that U.S. energy needs are met both now and in the future.
Public comments on this draft analysis can be submitted via the BLM National NEPA Register until July 1, 2025.
