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BLM Proposes Rule to Streamline Oil and Gas Permitting in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve, Boosting Energy Production and Local Communities
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Bureau of Land Management is taking a major step toward unleashing Alaska’s energy potential by opening a 60-day public comment period on a new proposal to streamline oil and gas permitting in Alaska. The proposed rule aims to cut red tape and accelerate infrastructure development across the 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska — driving forward American Energy Dominance following a formal petition from the Alaska Oil and Gas Association.
The proposed rule is informed by the Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s petition and builds on decades of extensive analysis that the BLM has conducted for similar oil and gas infrastructure in the area. This proposed rule would establish pre-defined criteria for defined and repeatable common activities with similar environmental effects that, when met by an applicant, would result in a streamlined permitting process for qualifying production sites. In addition to releasing the proposed rule today, the BLM released portions of the supporting environmental impact statement, which is being developed concurrently.
“Responsible development shouldn't be held back by redundant paperwork. By utilizing over 20 years of rigorous environmental data, we are replacing slow, case-by-case reviews with a standardized process that maintains our high environmental standards, while giving operators the predictability they need to build,” said BLM Director Steve Pearce. “This is about working smarter, honoring the Trump administration’s commitment to energy security, and ensuring Alaskans directly benefit from the resources in their backyard.”
This effort builds on the Department of the Interior’s extensive work to unlock the reserve’s energy potential under direction in Executive Orders 14153 and 14154, Secretary’s Order 3422, and the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. The BLM has taken other steps to improve regulatory certainty in the Reserve, including rescission of the 2024 rule that restricted leasing and development in the petroleum reserve and reopening nearly 82% of the area to oil and gas leasing through an updated Integrated Activity Plan.
“The BLM has over two decades of experience permitting permanent infrastructure projects in the petroleum reserve, giving us a robust understanding of how we can support oil and gas development, while protecting the surface values,” said BLM Alaska State Director Kevin Pendergast. “This rule builds on that history to provide industry with the regulatory certainty needed to keep investing in the tremendous energy resources of the reserve, providing good-paying jobs, lower energy costs, and revenue to Alaskan communities.”
The proposed rule will publish Tuesday in the Federal Register and includes a 60-day public comment period that will close Nov. 9, 2026. Written comments may be submitted through Regulations.gov by searching “1004-AF57” and following the instructions. Comments may also be mailed to: Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Director 630 (1004-AF57), 1849 C St. NW, Room 5646, Washington, DC 20240.
To review and submit comments on the supporting environmental analysis for the rule, visit the BLM National NEPA Register webpage. Comments may be submitted through the “Participate Now” option (preferred).
About 3.5 million acres are currently leased in the reserve following the historic lease sale held in March 2026. That sale resulted in 187 tracts receiving bids for more than $163 million in total receipts, generating a historic high revenue, the most tracts receiving bids and the second most acreage sold in a single sale for the NPR-A.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.