The United States Department of the Interior of the United States announced the proposal to revoke the 2024 rule that imposed, during the Joe Biden government, new restrictions on oil and gas exploration in the Alaska National Reserve. According to the official statement, the revocation of the standard will eliminate obstacles to responsible energy production.
The reserve, with about 93,000 square kilometers in northern Alaska, was destined by Congress for oil exploration and development as part of national energy security, in response to the 1970s oil crisis. The text reports that, after a detailed legal and political review, authorities of the land management agency (BLM) and DOI concluded that the 2024 rule exceeds the statutory authority Agency, conflicts with the purpose of the law and imposes “unnecessary barriers to responsible energy development” in the region.
“Congress was clear: The Alaska reserve was created to support US energy security through responsible development. The 2024 rule ignored this mandate, prioritizing obstruction over production and undermining our ability to take advantage of domestic resources at a time when American energy independence has never been so crucial,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
According to the statement, the proposed revocation is aligned with the executive orders of President Donald Trump of January 2025, which highlight the need to reverse restrictive policies that make domestic energy development difficult through oil exploration. With the revocation, the BLM will return to previous regulations, which guide the responsible development of the reserve, preserving the protection of wildlife, adds the note of DOI.
The proposal will be published at Federal Register, the American Official Gazette, and will be open for public comments for 60 days.
