WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, along with 46 of their Democratic colleagues, called out the Trump administration’s recent proposals to rescind two key Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rules about oil and gas leases and preventing pollution and waste on public lands.
“BLM’s newly proposed rule threatens to dismantle this common-sense progress. We are deeply concerned that the proposed changes shift cleanup liabilities back to the public, restrict community and private landowner participation, and distort the balance required to manage America’s public lands responsibly,” wrote the lawmakers.
In another letter, they continued: “We strongly urge BLM to reject this proposed rescission and maintain the 2024 Waste Prevention rule. The oil and gas resources on these lands belong to the American public and Tribal nations, and they deserve to benefit from the full value and benefits of responsible resource stewardship.”
Specifically, the Trump admin has proposed to overturn the 2024 Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule (2024 Onshore Leasing Rule) and the 2024 Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule (the 2024 Waste Prevention Rule).
The 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule was a long-overdue correction to decades of BLM policies that favored oil and gas development over other uses and led to tens of thousands of dangerous abandoned wells that became the financial burden of taxpayers, instead of the oil and gas companies. The rule made sure that the concerns of states, Tribes, and local communities were included in decision-making and received strong public support.
The 2024 Waste Prevention Rule helped reduce the wasteful venting, flaring, and leaking of natural gas during oil and gas operations on federal and Tribal lands. Reversing this commonsense rule would increase pollution on public lands, reduce domestic energy supply, expose nearby communities to avoidable health risks, and waste publicly owned natural gas, costing Americans tens of millions in foregone revenue.
The lawmakers asked that the administration specifically reconsider oil and gas bonding requirements, public participation, Tribal consultation, and landowner involvement, and leasing preference criteria.
Full text of the letter opposing the rescission of the 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule is available HERE. Full text of the letter opposing the rescission of the 2024 Waste Prevention Rule is available HERE.
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