Regulatory Tracker Endangered Species Act Regulations The Trump administration issued its first proposed rollback to ESA protections. March 20, 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. February 24, 2026
Federal Environmental Justice Tracker OSMRE Finalized Rule Reverting Ten-Day Notice Process to 2020 Framework February 19, 2026
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. February 19, 2026
Regulatory Tracker Federal Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program The Department of the Interior proposed a new 5-year program for offshore oil and gas lease sales that will cover 1.3 billion acres. The administration also rolled out a schedule for additional offshore oil and gas lease sales to implement provisions in the OBBBA. February 5, 2026
Regulatory Tracker Deep Sea Mining Following the April 2025 executive order Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have taken steps to facilitate commercial deep sea critical minerals mining. January 29, 2026
Regulatory Tracker Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — Oil and Gas Development In October 2025, BLM reinstituted a Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program which opened the 1.56 million acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas leasing. January 13, 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. January 13, 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. December 22, 2025
