Peace Garden News

Members of North Dakota's congressional delegation have introduced a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota. The move comes after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that the plan is eligible for repeal under the CRA.

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak stated, “North Dakotans saw the Biden administration’s plan for what it was: A backdoor attempt to shut down responsible energy development on federal lands. It would crush coal production, close off millions of acres to leasing, and devastate jobs and communities across our state. This legislation overturns this harmful rule and restores common sense for North Dakota’s landowners and energy producers. We need energy policy that embraces innovation, not one that caters to out-of-touch activists at the expense of our energy security and economic strength.”

Senator Kevin Cramer commented, “The Biden Administration’s Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plan for North Dakota represented another assault upon our state’s economy and energy producers. Washington bureaucrats targeted our coal, oil, and natural gas reserves by blocking producers’ ability to develop them, ignoring the state’s input, clear text of federal law, and countless court precedents. Thankfully, the Trump administration is taking a new direction. This resolution under the Congressional Review Act is another tool at our disposal to get rid of this disastrous rule.”

Senator John Hoeven said, “The RMP for North Dakota is an egregious example of the Biden administration’s overreaching Green New Deal agenda. This rule would lock away vast oil and gas acreage and nearly 99 percent of federal coal acreage in our state, undermining our energy security and economic resilience. The CRA resolution we’re introducing will roll back this harmful policy, ensuring North Dakota remains a powerhouse for our nation, while helping the U.S. to become truly energy dominant.”

In its final days in office, the Biden administration adopted an RMP that restricts access to mineral resources in North Dakota by prohibiting coal leasing on more than four million acres—almost all federal coal acreage—and blocking future development on 213,000 acres or about 44 percent of federally owned fluid mineral acreage in the state. Both state officials and members of Congress from North Dakota had previously voiced opposition during its drafting process.

Earlier this year, in February 2025, members of North Dakota's congressional delegation sent a letter to GAO requesting confirmation that the CRA applies to this RMP so Congress could review it.

Governor Kelly Armstrong expressed support for repealing the BLM plan: “We appreciate Senators Hoeven and Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak for introducing the CRA joint resolution, which is the cleanest, fastest way to overturn the Biden administration’s disastrous plan. Instead of destabilizing the electric grid, raising consumer costs and making our nation less safe like the Biden plan threatened to do, North Dakotans deserve a Resource Management Plan that encourages responsible development of U.S. energy resources and supports our communities. The state stands ready to work with our delegation to repeal the RMP and replace it with a plan that protects states’ rights and recognizes our unique concerns about mineral ownership.”

Alison Ritter from Western Dakota Energy Association said: "The Western Dakota Energy Association thanks our Congressional Delegation for introducing this Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the anti-energy Resource Management Plan (RMP) President Biden imposed upon North Dakota. Rescinding this plan is key to unlocking North Dakota’s full energy potential, while also protecting good-paying jobs, sustaining strong local economies, and preserving responsible access to the vital resources that power our nation."

Ron Ness from North Dakota Petroleum Council added: “As part of former President Biden’s over-reaching regulatory agenda, the BLM proposed a Resource Management Plan which was nothing but a transparent anti-energy power grab. The North Dakota Petroleum Council thanks Senators Hoeven and Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak for introducing this Congressional Review Act resolution that would force the BLM to simply respect the rule of law.”

More information about resource management plans can be found through official government sources.