BLM’s North Dakota office proposes to close ‘low-potential’ oil, gas leases

The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s North Dakota Field Office proposed Aug. 8 to close oil and gas leasing in any areas of the state with low-development potential or in state-designated drinking water source protection areas as part of a proposed resource management plan (RMP) for the state.

The proposed plan updates the 1988 North Dakota RMP to better balance energy and mineral development while supporting outdoor recreation, cultural resources, and sustaining healthy habitat for priority plant, wildlife, and fish species across about 58,500 acres of BLM-managed surface lands and 4.1 million acres of BLM-administered subsurface minerals in North Dakota, the BLM state office said in a statement.

North Dakota is home to the Bakken oil producing region.

“This plan represents a significant step forward in guiding public land use and balancing energy and mineral development in North Dakota,” said Wendy Warren, Eastern Montana/Dakotas District Manager. 

During the 90-day comment period on the draft plan, which included a 30-day extension granted at the request of the North Dakota governor, BLM received 535 public comments.

The plan, which also includes a final environmental statement, is slated for publication in the Federal Register Aug. 9, triggering a 30-day comment period for protests to the plan and a 60-day consistency review by the governor’s office.