DOI – Environmental and Energy Law Program

Latest

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 23, 2025

Federal Environmental Justice Tracker

Rollback: Interior Released Emergency Permitting Procedures for Fossil Fuel and Critical Minerals Projects

April 23, 2025

Regulatory Tracker

Federal Offshore Oil and Gas 5-Year Leasing Program

The Trump DOI is reviewing the 5-year program for offshore oil and gas lease sales to comply with the Trump EO “Unleashing American Energy.” The EO specifically mentions encouraging offshore development on the Outer Continental Shelf, which President Biden had partially protected.

April 18, 2025

Regulatory Tracker

Endangered Species Act Regulations

The Trump administration issued its first proposed rollback to ESA protections.

April 15, 2025

Regulatory Tracker

Federal Onshore Extractive Energy Leasing

President Trump directed agencies to review and remove regulations that the administration believes burden domestic energy production.

April 15, 2025

Regulatory Tracker

National Monuments

The Biden administration designated and expanded national monuments. The Trump DOI has slated these for rollback.

March 25, 2025

Regulatory Tracker

BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule

BLM released a final rule to reduce the waste of natural gas from oil and gas operations on federal and tribal land. Four states challenged the rule.

February 25, 2025

Regulatory Tracker

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — Oil and Gas Development

President Trump ordered a series of actions to initiate more oil and gas exploration, leasing, and extraction in the refuge. A lease sale earlier in January received no bids.

February 5, 2025

Regulatory Tracker

Oil and Gas Development in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve

President Trump ordered BLM to reverse protections in the NPR-A put in place under President Biden. The Willow Project has been approved, with litigation pending.

February 3, 2025