The Interior Department says proposed revisions to leasing and waste prevention rules would reduce costs, ease regulatory burdens and support the Trump administration’s American Energy Dominance agenda.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Interior Department is moving to revise federal oil and gas regulations in an effort to increase domestic production, reduce compliance costs and remove barriers the Trump administration says have discouraged energy investment on public lands.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced Monday that the department is proposing changes to federal onshore oil and gas leasing rules, along with revisions to a separate waste prevention rule. Department officials said the changes are intended to support President Donald Trump’s American Energy Dominance agenda by making domestic energy development more predictable and less costly.
The proposal would remove a Biden administration bonding requirement that increased statewide bonding levels from $25,000 to $500,000. Interior said it will gather public input before adopting a long-term approach to bonding requirements.
The department estimates that revisions to the waste prevention rule would lower annual compliance costs by nearly $17 million.
“Energy Dominance requires regulatory clarity,” Burgum said. “These targeted updates cut through the red tape that has historically deterred investment, ensuring our public lands remain a reliable engine for economic growth and innovation.”
The leasing changes would allow noncompetitive leases after competitive auctions, eliminate the expression of interest leasing preference review process and shorten public participation periods from 90 days to 10 days.
Interior also plans to update filing fees, request public input on appropriate bond amounts and permit replacement lease sales when earlier sales are delayed or canceled.
The department said the waste prevention revisions would remove requirements for waste minimization plans and self-certification tied to drilling permits. The proposal would also establish clearer standards for venting, flaring and royalty obligations.
Interior officials said the combined changes are designed to reduce uncertainty for producers, cut unnecessary costs and encourage new investment in U.S. oil and gas production.
The regulatory proposal follows another Interior Department energy announcement last week involving a settlement with Invenergy, one of the nation’s largest privately held energy infrastructure companies.
Under that agreement, Invenergy agreed to terminate four offshore wind leases in the New York/New Jersey Bight, the Central Coast of California and the Gulf of Maine. The leases were valued at $765 million.
Interior said the funding will instead be redirected toward natural gas-fired power plants in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Wisconsin, along with geothermal projects in the western United States.
“President Trump is committed to unleashing affordable, reliable American energy for our country’s communities and putting the American people first through common-sense action,” Burgum said.
Interior said the proposed oil and gas rule changes and the Invenergy settlement are part of a broader administration effort to expand domestic energy production, strengthen U.S. energy security and reduce costs for consumers.
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