NORTH DAKOTA FILES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING BLM’S AMENDMENTS TO THE STATE’S RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN

25 Feb NORTH DAKOTA FILES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING BLM’S AMENDMENTS TO THE STATE’S RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN

February 25, 2025

_{Media Contact: Suzie Weigel, 701.328.2210}

BISMARCK, ND – Attorney General Wrigley announced today that the State has filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management’s amendments to the North Dakota Resource Management Plan (RMP). RMPs are comprehensive land use plans that dictate how federally-owned lands and minerals will be developed.

In the final week of the Biden Administration, BLM finalized amendments to the North Dakota RMP that radically change how natural resources can be developed across the State. In addition to severely restricting the future development of oil and gas resources across the State, the rule also categorically prohibits the development of all federally owned coal outside of a 4-mile radius surrounding current lease boundaries—blocking any development of over 90% of the known federal coal deposits in North Dakota. And due to the unique nature of federal mineral ownership in North Dakota—with the federal government owning small parcels scattered across the State—the rule will have dramatic negative impacts on the future development of privately-owned mineral resources across the State.

“The long-term negative impacts of this rule on traditional energy development in North Dakota, and on private mineral owners, cannot be overstated,” said Attorney General Drew Wrigley, adding that “BLM had the gall to claim that this rule change was the product of ‘collaboration.’ Absolute nonsense. The Biden Administration ignored the State’s strenuous objections at every turn, and then cranked out this monstrosity in their final week, violating several of their own regulations in the process. The new rule is unlawful, and it epitomizes everything that was wrong with the Biden Administration’s approach to crafting regulations that impact energy development.”

A copy of the complaint is attached.

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