Attorney General Drew H. Wrigley | North Dakota Attorney General's Office
Attorney General Drew H. Wrigley | North Dakota Attorney General's Office
Attorney General Drew Wrigley announced that North Dakota has initiated legal action against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over amendments to the state's Resource Management Plan (RMP). These plans guide the development of federally-owned lands and minerals.
The BLM finalized these amendments in the last week of President Biden's administration. The changes significantly restrict oil and gas development across North Dakota and prohibit coal development on federally owned land outside a four-mile radius of current lease boundaries. This decision affects over 90% of known federal coal deposits in the state.
Attorney General Wrigley expressed strong opposition, stating, "The long-term negative impacts of this rule on traditional energy development in North Dakota, and on private mineral owners, cannot be overstated." He criticized the BLM's claim that the rule change resulted from collaboration, describing it as "absolute nonsense."
Wrigley accused the Biden Administration of ignoring state objections and violating regulations in implementing this rule. He stated, "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 available for review.
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