February 25, 2025
Bismarck, ND – North Dakota has initiated legal action against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over amendments to the state’s Resource Management Plan (RMP). The RMPs serve as comprehensive guides for the development of federally-owned lands and minerals.
The lawsuit follows BLM’s recent amendments made during the final week of the Biden Administration. These changes significantly alter how natural resources in North Dakota can be developed. The amendments impose strict limitations on future oil and gas resource development and completely prohibit federal coal development outside a four-mile radius of existing lease boundaries. This restriction affects over 90% of known federal coal deposits in the state. Due to the scattered nature of federal mineral ownership in North Dakota, these changes are expected to negatively impact privately-owned mineral resources as well.
Attorney General Drew Wrigley expressed strong opposition to these changes, stating: “The long-term negative impacts of this rule on traditional energy development in North Dakota, and on private mineral owners, cannot be overstated.” He further criticized the process by which these amendments were finalized: “BLM had the gall to claim that this rule change was the product of ‘collaboration.’ Absolute nonsense. The Biden Administration ignored the State’s strenuous objections at every turn, and then cranked out this monstrosity in their final week, violating several of their own regulations in the process. The new rule is unlawful, and it epitomizes everything that was wrong with the Biden Administration’s approach to crafting regulations that impact energy development.”
A copy of the complaint has been made available.
