ND North News

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, alongside Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, has introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution aimed at overturning the Biden administration’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota. The move follows a determination by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that the plan qualifies for repeal under the CRA.

“North Dakotans saw the Biden administration’s plan for what it was: A backdoor attempt to shut down responsible energy development on federal lands. It would crush coal production, close off millions of acres to leasing, and devastate jobs and communities across our state,” stated Rep. Fedorchak. “This legislation overturns this harmful rule and restores common sense for North Dakota’s landowners and energy producers.”

Senator Cramer described the BLM's plan as an assault on North Dakota’s economy and energy producers. “Washington bureaucrats targeted our coal, oil, and natural gas reserves by blocking producers’ ability to develop them,” he said.

Senator Hoeven criticized the RMP as part of the Biden administration’s Green New Deal agenda, which he claims undermines energy security and economic resilience in North Dakota. He emphasized that their CRA resolution aims to ensure North Dakota remains an energy powerhouse.

The RMP was adopted in the final days of the Biden administration and significantly restricts access to mineral resources in North Dakota. The plan prohibits coal leasing on over four million acres, nearly 99 percent of federal coal acreage in the state.

In February 2025, North Dakota's delegation requested GAO to confirm that CRA applies to the state's RMP. Governor Kelly Armstrong expressed appreciation for the introduction of the CRA joint resolution, seeing it as a way to overturn what he described as a disastrous plan.

Alison Ritter from the Western Dakota Energy Association praised the Congressional Delegation for their efforts against what she termed an anti-energy RMP imposed by President Biden.

Ron Ness of the North Dakota Petroleum Council supported the CRA resolution as necessary for ensuring respect for legal standards regarding resource management.