Trump-Era Proposal Seeks to Reverse Biden Conservation Rule for Public Lands
A proposal spearheaded by Trump management officials aims to overturn a Biden-era rule allowing for conservation leases on federal lands, a move lauded by industry groups and criticized by environmental advocates. The announcement, made on Wednesday, is part of a broader series of actions taken sence Trump took office to prioritize energy production from federal land holdings, especially in Western states like Alaska, California, Nevada, new Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
The Biden administration’s rule, finalized in April 2024, established a dedicated program for issuing leases specifically for conservation purposes – such as land restoration – alongside existing leases for activities like energy production and mining. Interior officials argue this rule sidelined communities and industries reliant on public lands and imposed needless restrictions, noting that no conservation leases were actually issued under the program.
North Dakota Governor Doug burgum stated the rule could have hindered energy and mineral production, logging, grazing, and recreation across vast areas. He believes overturning it “protects our American way of life and gives our communities a voice in the land that they depend on.”
However, environmental groups contend the Biden rule simply recognized a long-overlooked aspect of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) mission, as outlined in the 1976 Federal Lands Policy Management Act. Alison Flint, senior legal director at The Wilderness Society, argued the administration shouldn’t be able to ”overthrow that statutory authority” in favor of prioritizing drilling and mining interests.The core of the debate centers on the “multiple use” mandate governing Interior Department lands. Critics of the Biden rule claim it unfairly elevated “non-use” – meaning conservation and restoration – to a prominent position,disrupting the traditional balance. Industry representatives,like Rich Nolan,CEO of the National Mining Association,welcomed the proposal,asserting it woudl ensure access to natural resources needed to meet rising energy demands and supply critical minerals. He characterized the Biden rule as a “clear disregard for the legal obligation to balance multiple uses.”
The Biden rule also encouraged the designation of more “areas of critical environmental concern,” which can limit advancement due to their historical, cultural, or ecological significance.
The BLM manages over 1 million square miles of publicly-owned underground mineral reserves, alongside its surface land holdings, and has historically favored policies supporting resource extraction through grazing permits and oil and gas leases.
The Trump administration’s proposal will now undergo a 60-day public comment period. This action follows recent moves by House Republicans to repeal Biden-era land management plans restricting development in Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota, and a proposal to increase mining and drilling in Western states while simultaneously proposing limits to protect the greater sage grouse.
