The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced a policy update by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to expedite the oil and gas leasing process on public lands.
This move aligns with the Trump administration’s energy dominance agenda, aiming to complete lease parcel reviews within a six-month time frame, from the start of scoping to the lease sale.
The BLM’s new ‘Oil and Gas Leasing – Land Use Planning and Lease Parcel Reviews’ instruction memorandum is set to increase the availability of onshore federal lands for leasing, reduce bureaucratic delays and enhance public engagement.
The policy is expected to contribute to job creation, lower energy costs and reinforce US energy dominance.
US DOI Land and Minerals Management Acting Assistant Secretary Adam Suess said: “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are ending the unnecessary delays and bureaucratic roadblocks that have held back American energy production for too long.
“This policy puts us on a fast track to Energy Dominance – opening up more federal land for responsible development, cutting review times nearly in half, and sending a clear message that the US is serious about job creation, low energy costs and putting American energy first.”
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By GlobalDataUnder the updated policy, the BLM will offer parcels in an oil and gas lease sale within six months from the beginning of scoping.
State offices with eligible parcels will plan lease sales as soon as is practical, adhering to public participation posting time frames as outlined in regulations.
The BLM will no longer defer parcels before completing all National Environmental Policy Act reviews, allowing lease parcel reviews to be conducted simultaneously with the National Energy Policy Act compliance process.
The BLM’s review of lease sale parcels will be based on existing land management policy and resource management plans.
The BLM is mandated by statute to hold quarterly lease sales when eligible lands are available.
A review of sales in the past two years showed that the BLM’s parcel review time frame varied between eight and 15 months.
