The Trump administration will shrink the time it takes to review potential land parcels on federal lands for oil and gas development by about half, to six months, the Interior Department said on Tuesday.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
The move to streamline the oil and gas leasing process aligns with President Donald Trump’s energy dominance agenda, which aims to increase domestic fossil fuel supplies, reduce fuel prices, and bolster national security.
KEY QUOTE
“This policy puts us on a fast track to Energy Dominance—opening up more federal land for responsible development, cutting review times nearly in half, and sending a clear message that the United States is serious about job creation, low energy costs, and putting American energy first,” Adam Suess, the Interior Department’s acting assistant secretary for land and minerals management, said in a statement.
CONTEXT
The policy change is the latest effort by Trump’s administration to shorten approval times for energy projects on federal lands. The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management said the parcel reviews, which consider whether oil and gas leasing is aligned with regional land use plans, will be conducted at the same time as congressionally-mandated environmental reviews.
The acceleration of energy permitting processes on federal lands has prompted concerns from environmental groups, who argue that the policies may prioritize corporate interests over public health and environmental protection.
(Reporting by Nichola Groom Editing by Rod Nickel)