BLM – Environmental and Energy Law Program

Latest

Regulatory Tracker

Oil and Gas Development in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve

The Bureau of Land Management replaced the 2024 rule regulating management of the NPR-A with the prior rule, promulgated in 1977, and approved a new Integrated Activity Plan, reopening almost 82% of the reserve to oil and gas leasing.

October 8, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

Federal Onshore Extractive Energy Leasing

President Trump directed agencies to review and remove regulations that the administration believes burden domestic energy production. BLM has begun the process of offering expanded areas for leasing and expedited lease reviews.

August 8, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule

In 2024, BLM released a final rule to reduce the waste of natural gas from oil and gas operations on federal and Tribal land. In Nov. 2025, BLM announced it will delay enforcement of portions of the rule that had been scheduled to take effect Dec. 2025. Other portions of the rule remain in effect and BLM is considering revisions.

June 24, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

NEPA — Department of the Interior

DOI last updated its NEPA rules in 2008. In April, DOI released “alternative arrangements for NEPA compliance,” outlining a novel process for certain energy projects to circumvent existing environmental review procedures.

April 6, 2026

Environmental Justice Tracker

BLM Makes 13.1 Million Acres Available for Coal Leasing

October 2, 2025

Regulatory Tracker

Greater Sage-Grouse Protection

We are not currently updating this rule.

May 28, 2021

Regulatory Tracker

BLM Land Use Planning 2.0

We are not currently updating this rule.

March 28, 2017