Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, responded to the Department of the Interior’s recent proposal to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 2024 Public Lands Rule. The rule, which was finalized by the Biden administration in April 2024, has permitted conservation leases on federal lands for over a year. These leases have limited access to public lands and were seen as conflicting with Congress’s established multiple-use mandate.

Hoeven commented on the decision by stating: “The Department of the Interior made the right call in proposing to rescind this rule. It’s not only a win for our farmers, ranchers, and energy producers who rely on access to public lands, but for federal, state and local governments that benefit from the economic activity and revenues that result from these multiple-use activities,” said Hoeven. “I appreciate Secretary Doug Burgum’s commitment to restoring balance and supporting rural communities."

The BLM's multiple-use mandate requires that public lands be managed for various purposes such as recreation, grazing, timber harvesting, and energy development. Critics of the 2024 Public Lands Rule argued that conservation leases restricted these traditional uses.