Peace Garden News

The U.S. Senate has passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval aimed at overturning the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota, which was finalized during the Biden administration. The resolution, led by North Dakota’s congressional delegation, now moves to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The BLM manages 58,500 surface acres and 4.1 million acres of mineral estate in North Dakota. These lands are managed under a “multiple use” framework, intended to allow oil, gas, coal, grazing, and recreation activities in a sustainable way. The Biden administration released its final RMP for North Dakota in August 2024 and adopted it in January 2025 without incorporating requested changes from the state or its congressional delegation. The plan prohibits coal leasing on over four million acres—almost 99 percent of federal coal acreage—and blocks 213,000 acres, or 44 percent, of federally owned fluid mineral acreage. State estimates indicate that these restrictions could cost North Dakota $34 million annually in oil and gas royalties and tax revenue.

After the BLM did not respond to concerns raised by North Dakotans about the RMP, Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) led efforts to have the Government Accountability Office determine if the RMP could be repealed under the CRA. Following confirmation from the GAO, Senator Cramer and Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced a Joint Resolution of Disapproval in the Senate; Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak introduced a companion resolution in the House. The CRA passed the House in September.

Members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation issued statements following Senate passage:

“The thing that frustrates me the most is that the Bureau of Land Management, like so much of the federal bureaucracy, simply ignores the law because they don't agree with it,” said Senator Kevin Cramer. “They don't have that option. Their resource plan requires the mandate to implement multiple use. Multiple use includes energy development. It includes grazing. It includes agriculture. It includes recreation. It includes development of resources. It's multiple use. And that's what frustrates us and that's why we had to pass this, this resolution of disapproval to roll that thing out of there, make sure it never happens again. And then, of course, we need a new Resource Management Plan that recognizes the modern technologies and recognizes that America's dominance and energy dominance is a national security issue. North Dakota is a main contributor to that goal.”

Senator John Hoeven stated: “Our energy producers operate under the highest environmental standards in the world. But the Biden administration’s North Dakota RMP ignores that record of responsible energy development, locking away taxpayer-owned energy reserves and jeopardizing our nation’s energy security,” he said. “As manufacturing is brought back home, and new industries are coming online, our need for affordable, reliable energy is only growing. It makes no sense for the federal government to restrict access to the very resources needed to power this economic opportunity. Passing today’s resolution is part of our efforts with President Trump and Interior Secretary Burgum to take the handcuffs off and unleash North Dakota’s full energy potential.”

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak added: “North Dakotans saw the Biden administration's plan for exactly what it was: a backdoor attempt to shut down fossil fuels in our state. It would have been devastating to our state’s energy industry, the men and women who power it, and millions who rely on its affordable, dependable power,” she said.“Today's Senate passage of our CRA is a major victory for North Dakota and for American energy dominance. I appreciate the partnership with Senators Cramer and Hoeven and look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law.”

Senators Cramer and Hoeven also spoke on the Senate floor before passage:

“Despite vocal objection from the state – the people who actually use the land – the final plan prohibits coal leasing on over four million acres by inexcusably prohibiting all future development outside of a 4-mile radius from current development,” said Senator Cramer.“Whether it’s coal, oil, or gas, federally-owned subsurface minerals are intermingled with state and private mineral owners. In plain speak, the Biden Resource Management Plan is a de facto taking from the state and private mineral owners. Throughout the rulemaking process this point was made very clear, but BLM ignored them…By passing this resolution, we reassert Congressional intent and remind the bureaucracy our boundaries are not optional.”

Senator Hoeven commented: “This flawed plan, finalized during the closing days of the Biden administration, undermines BLM’s multiple-use mandate and restricts access to vast, taxpayer-owned energy reserves in North Dakota. It is yet another example of the Biden administration’s overreaching Green New Deal agenda intended to block access to domestic energy production,” he said.“I am pleased to join Senator Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak in introducing this CRA resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it and help overturn this overreaching and restrictive plan.”

Other organizations also expressed support for overturning the RMP:

“We urge Congress to pass this Congressional Review Act and reject federal overreach that would devastate North Dakota’s energy industry,” one statement read.“The BLM's Resource Management Plan ignores modern drilling technologies and imposes blanket closures that are inconsistent with federal law and harmful to our state’s economy. We thank Senator Cramer for his leadership on this critical issue and call on both chambers to swiftly pass this legislation to protect North Dakota workers and America's energy independence.”

The Western Dakota Energy Association stated: “The Western Dakota Energy Association thanks our Congressional Delegation for their tireless work to pass the Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the anti-energy Resource Management Plan,” they said.“This action is a major victory for common sense and our rural communities. Keeping North Dakota’s towns and schools thriving starts with allowing for the smart, responsible development of our oil and gas resources — the backbone of good-paying jobs, strong local economies, and reliable energy for our nation.”

Another statement noted: “The BLM’s plan would shut down nearly all coal development on federal lands in North Dakota, ignoring decades of responsible energy production,” they said.“We thank our delegation for fighting back. This resolution is a critical step toward restoring regulatory balance and protecting the affordable, reliable power our industry provides.”

A further comment highlighted: “Energy development on federal lands is critical to strengthening America’s energy security, powering our economy, and supporting state and local conservation efforts,” they said.“Congressional action to rescind this midnight rule by the previous administration to restrict access to North Dakota’s abundant oil and natural gas resources is key to strengthening American energy dominance, and we thank Sen. Kevin Cramer for his leadership.”

Additional industry voices included: “In recent years, BLM finalized multiple RMPs that imposed unnecessary restrictions on federal lands, creating significant barriers to achieving American energy dominance,” one statement read.“Onshore production from these lands generates substantial economic value at the state and local levels – creating jobs, funding public programs, and supporting communities. AXPC commends Senator Cramer for his leadership on this critical issue and urges swift passage of S.J. Res. 62.”

A letter of support stated: “This RMP, crafted and finalized under the Biden Administration, created de facto moratorium on new energy development by locking up more than four million acres of land in North Dakota,” adding,“At a time when energy demand is soaring, the Biden RMPs for North Dakota ignored the Federal Land Policy and Management Act’s (FLPMA) multiple-use mandate, which charges the federal government with managing public lands according to the principles of multiple use and sustained yield… I urge swift passage of this important resolution to protect access to our public lands and ensure that the long-recognized requirement that multiple-use public lands are available to meet U.S. energy needs.”

Another statement read: “The Biden Administration instituted several RMPs across the West that closed off millions of acres of public lands from multiple uses,” adding,“For example, the North Dakota plan closed over 200,000 acres, or nearly 45%, of available land from oil and natural gas leasing. The Senate resolution is a welcome step that will bring more certainty to energy development and other multiple uses on public lands managed by BLM.”

The Independent Petroleum Association of America commented: "S.J. Res. 62 represents an important step toward restoring regulatory balance and is a key bellwether for multiple use on public lands,” they said.“The Biden Administration’s finalized RMP risks sidelining energy production and several other multiple uses in favor of overly restrictive conservation plans and is inconsistent with the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). IPAA supports the effort by Senator Cramer to ensure federal land management includes a wide variety of activities including responsible oil and natural gas development on America’s public lands."

The resolution now awaits action by President Trump.