ND North News

The U.S. Senate has passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval aimed at overturning the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota, a policy implemented during the Biden administration. The resolution now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The BLM is responsible for managing 58,500 surface acres and 4.1 million acres of mineral estate in North Dakota under a "multiple use" framework. This approach is intended to allow oil, gas, coal extraction, grazing, and recreational activities on public lands in a sustainable way. The final RMP, released by the Biden administration in August 2024 and adopted in January, prohibited coal leasing on more than four million acres—almost 99 percent of federal coal acreage—and blocked access to 213,000 acres of federally owned fluid mineral acreage. State estimates indicate that if the RMP were implemented, North Dakota would lose approximately $34 million each year in oil and gas royalties and tax revenue.

After the BLM did not incorporate feedback from state officials or the congressional delegation, Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) led an effort requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to determine whether the RMP could be repealed through the CRA process. Following a GAO determination that repeal was possible, Senators Cramer and John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced the Joint Resolution in the Senate while Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak brought forward a companion bill in the House. The House passed its version in September.

Members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation released statements after Senate passage:

“The thing that frustrates me the most is that the Bureau of Land Management, like so much of the federal bureaucracy, simply ignores the law because they don't agree with it,” said Senator Cramer. “They don't have that option. Their resource plan requires the mandate to implement multiple use. Multiple use includes energy development. It includes grazing. It includes agriculture. It includes recreation. It includes development of resources. It's multiple use. And that's what frustrates us and that's why we had to pass this, this resolution of disapproval to roll that thing out of there, make sure it never happens again. And then, of course, we need a new Resource Management Plan that recognizes the modern technologies and recognizes that America's dominance and energy dominance is a national security issue. North Dakota is a main contributor to that goal.”

Senator Hoeven stated: “Our energy producers operate under the highest environmental standards in the world. But the Biden administration’s North Dakota RMP ignores that record of responsible energy development, locking away taxpayer-owned energy reserves and jeopardizing our nation’s energy security,” he said. “As manufacturing is brought back home, and new industries are coming online, our need for affordable, reliable energy is only growing. It makes no sense for the federal government to restrict access to the very resources needed to power this economic opportunity. Passing today’s resolution is part of our efforts with President Trump and Interior Secretary Burgum to take the handcuffs off and unleash North Dakota’s full energy potential.”

Congresswoman Fedorchak commented: “North Dakotans saw the Biden administration's plan for exactly what it was: a backdoor attempt to shut down fossil fuels in our state. It would have been devastating to our state’s energy industry, the men and women who power it, and millions who rely on its affordable, dependable power,” she said.“Today's Senate passage of our CRA is a major victory for North Dakota and for American energy dominance. I appreciate the partnership with Senators Cramer and Hoeven and look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law.”

Both senators spoke on the Senate floor prior to passage:

“Despite vocal objection from the state – the people who actually use the land – the final plan prohibits coal leasing on over four million acres by inexcusably prohibiting all future development outside of a 4-mile radius from current development,” said Senator Cramer.“Whether it’s coal, oil, or gas, federally-owned subsurface minerals are intermingled with state and private mineral owners. In plain speak, the Biden Resource Management Plan is a de facto taking from the state and private mineral owners. Throughout the rulemaking process this point was made very clear, but BLM ignored them…By passing this resolution, we reassert Congressional intent and remind the bureaucracy our boundaries are not optional.”

Senator Hoeven added: “This flawed plan, finalized during the closing days of the Biden administration, undermines BLM’s multiple-use mandate and restricts access to vast, taxpayer-owned energy reserves in North Dakota. It is yet another example of the Biden administration’s overreaching Green New Deal agenda intended to block access to domestic energy production,” he said.“I am pleased to join Senator Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak in introducing this CRA resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it and help overturn this overreaching and restrictive plan.”

Industry groups also expressed their views on congressional action against BLM's RMP:

“We urge Congress to pass this Congressional Review Act and reject federal overreach that would devastate North Dakota’s energy industry,” one statement read.“The BLM's Resource Management Plan ignores modern drilling technologies and imposes blanket closures that are inconsistent with federal law and harmful to our state’s economy."

Another organization stated: “The Western Dakota Energy Association thanks our Congressional Delegation for their tireless work to pass the Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the anti-energy Resource Management Plan," adding,“This action is a major victory for common sense and our rural communities."

Other stakeholders highlighted concerns about impacts on local economies:

“The BLM’s plan would shut down nearly all coal development on federal lands in North Dakota, ignoring decades of responsible energy production," read another statement.“We thank our delegation for fighting back."

“Energy development on federal lands is critical to strengthening America’s energy security," noted an additional comment."Congressional action...is key to strengthening American energy dominance..."

Industry representatives described broader implications across western states:

“In recent years, BLM finalized multiple RMPs that imposed unnecessary restrictions on federal lands..." one group remarked.

Another association added: "S.J. Res. 62 represents an important step toward restoring regulatory balance..."

With Senate approval secured following earlier House passage last month—and both chambers led by members representing affected communities—the joint resolution now awaits action by President Trump.