Newly confirmed Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum wasted no time in taking action following his Senate confirmation. On his first day in office, Burgum signed six new secretary’s orders that focus on American energy independence and the stewardship of the country’s public lands and resources.
“We are committed to working collaboratively to unlock America’s full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of America’s natural resources and innovation,” Burgum said.
The six orders intend to enhance efficiency and innovation across the Interior, reduce regulatory burdens and restore economic certainty to industries that utilize public lands.
“For too long, regulatory uncertainty has put ranchers, energy producers and rural communities on unstable footing,” the Public Lands Council (PLC) said in a Weekend Roundup e-newsletter. “The pendulum swing of regulations has created unnecessary economic risk, and these new orders represent an opportunity to restore balance.”
• Unleashing American energy.
Secretary’s Order 3418, “Unleashing American Energy,” encourages energy exploration and production on federal lands and water. The order immediately terminated all actions under the executive orders President Donald Trump revoked and will mandate a review of all agency actions that could burden the development of domestic energy resources.
PLC said while Burgum’s “Unleashing American Energy” order is primarily aimed at expanding domestic energy production, ranchers who use public lands could also benefit from the order. The plan calls for revising all drafts and finalized resource management plans involving sage grouse, along with addressing concerns with the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule that has largely been opposed by ranching groups.
“This rule has faced strong opposition from PLC and ranchers across the West due to its potential to restrict grazing and multiple-use principles on federal lands,” PLC said.
In addition to land use management, Burgum’s order also address the Endangered Species Act and eliminating three regulatory rules put in place during the Biden administration, which reinstated the Section 4(d) “blanket rule,” updated interagency cooperation, and revised listing determinations and critical habitat designations.
“These Biden rules reinstated heavy-handed restrictions that ignored the practical realities of land stewardship and sound science,” PLC said. “PLC welcomes this renewed effort to ensure ESA decisions consider economic impacts and recognize the role public lands ranchers have in active land management as it relates to ecological preservation.”
• Addressing the need for national energy.
Secretary’s Order 3417, “Addressing the National Energy Emergency,” addresses Trump’s national emergency declaration calling for a “reliable, diversified, growing and affordable supply of energy.”
The order will require the department to identify all emergency and legal authorities available to “facilitate the identification, permitting, leasing, development, production, transportation, refining, distribution, exporting and generation of domestic energy resources and critical minerals.” In addition, the Interior will identify all emergency and other legal authorities available to expedite all authorized and appropriate infrastructure energy, environmental and natural resources projects.
• Addressing the cost of living.
Secretary’s Order 3419, “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis,” mandates the Interior to take steps to reduce living costs for families in the U.S. The order requires a department-wide review of all programs and regulations that could be causing higher living costs.
“Interior will focus on ways to eliminate harmful, coercive climate policies and lower the cost of energy, which in turn will restore purchasing power to the everyday American and improve overall quality of life,” the department said.
• Revoking withdrawals in the Outer Continental Shelf.
Secretary’s Order 3420 directs the department to comply with Trump’s executive order to revoke three withdrawals of certain areas of the Artic Coast from oil or gas leasing.
“The Department will resume taking all actions available to expedite the leasing of the Outer Continental Shelf for oil and gas exploration and production,” the department said.
• Supporting Trump’s deregulation agenda.
Secretary’s Order 3421, “Achieving Prosperity Through Deregulation,” directs the Interior to support Trump’s deregulation executive order. The intention is to reduce red tape, enhance national security and improve the quality of life for U.S. citizens.
The department will eliminate at least 10 existing regulations for every new one introduced.
• “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential.”
Secretary’s Order 3422 mandates the Interior to maximize the development and production of natural resources found on federal and state lands within Alaska. Burgum calls for an immediate review of all restrictions on resource development in the state and for the Interior to develop plans of action to open up natural resources.
The orders were met with scrutiny from environmental groups. “Burgum and Trump are strapping dynamite to basic rules that protect our natural world,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity.
Defenders of Wildlife concurred, saying: “These orders are reckless and issued at a time that America is not experiencing an energy emergency, but rather a crisis of species and habitat loss.”
The Interior concluded the orders with: “By advancing policies that honor America’s heritage while fostering innovation and sustainability, the department remains committed to serving the interests of the American people and strengthening the nation’s environmental and energy future.” — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
