This resolution uses a law called the Congressional Review Act to cancel a federal land-use plan issued in 2022 for Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve — a roughly 23-million-acre area on Alaska's North Slope set aside for oil and gas development. The Bureau of Land Management's 2022 plan included conservation protections for portions of the reserve; nullifying it removes those protections and opens those areas back up to potential oil and gas activity. Under the Congressional Review Act, once Congress cancels a federal rule this way, the issuing agency cannot put a substantially similar plan back in place without new congressional authorization — limiting future executive-branch options for protecting the reserve.
Environmental Concerns
- Conservation protections in National Petroleum Reserve — BLM's 2022 land management plan, including protections for large portions of the reserve, is nullified
- Oil and gas leasing access — Land areas previously restricted under the 2022 plan reopened to potential development
- BLM rulemaking authority — Agency cannot issue a similar Alaska petroleum reserve protection plan without new congressional authorization
Congressional Summary
This joint resolution reopens portions of the National Petroleum Reserve for oil and gas leasing, (The reserve is an approximately 23-million-acre area on Alaska’s North Slope.)Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies a plan submitted by the Bureau of Land Management in a rule titled National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision and issued on April 25, 2022. The 2022 plan replaced the 2020 plan and closed approximately 48% of the reserve to oil and gas leasing in order to protect certain surface resources and uses, such as protecting wildlife and providing subsistence for communities. Thus, the joint resolution removes the protections provided under the 2022 plan and reverts to the 2020 plan.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Public Law
- Action Date
- 2025-12-05
- Date Added
- 2026-06-13
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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