WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Interior has released a draft environmental analysis that could pave the way for reopening up to 82% of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve to oil and gas leasing, reviving a Trump-era development plan aimed at increasing domestic energy production.
The 23-million-acre reserve on Alaska’s North Slope was originally designated for oil and gas exploration during the 1970s energy crisis. The new proposal updates the Bureau of Land Management’s Integrated Activity Plan to align with the 2020 framework under the Trump administration, part of a broader effort to promote what officials call “Energy Dominance.”
“This plan is about creating more jobs for Americans, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and tapping into the immense energy resources the National Petroleum Reserve was created to deliver,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Adam Suess in a statement. He said the proposal reflects President Trump’s leadership in restoring “commonsense policies” for energy development.
The draft analysis, released Monday, supports Executive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422—both of which prioritize expanding domestic energy output and reducing federal regulatory barriers. Officials said the plan will also help reverse restrictions imposed by a 2024 rule that limited leasing in the reserve.
The BLM manages the reserve under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, which mandates competitive leasing while safeguarding environmental and subsistence resources. According to the Interior Department, the proposed changes aim to balance those requirements with economic growth and national energy needs.
Public comment on the proposal is open through July 1, 2025, via the Bureau of Land Management’s National NEPA Register.