Burgum files appeal to BLM resource plan | News, Sports, Jobs

BISMARCK — North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum on Thursday filed a final appeal to the US Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) updated Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota, following two previous unsuccessful attempts to persuade the BLM to change the plan in response. to the concerns of the state, according to a press release from Burgum’s office.

The state’s protest filed in September contained input from more than a dozen state agencies and elected officials who reviewed in detail the draft RMP filed earlier this year. The finalized RMP would block the leasing of more than 4 million acres, or nearly 99 percent, of North Dakota’s federal coal acreage and close 213,100 acres, or 44 percent, of the federally held fluid mineral acreage from leasing. It also would cost the state about $34 million a year in revenue from oil and gas royalties and taxes and could eliminate more than 12,000 coal-related jobs from the state.

“Twice now, the BLM has refused to take seriously North Dakota’s concerns about this misguided plan, which would harm the reliability of the electric grid and endanger our national security, while increasing the cost of energy for consumers”, Burgum said. “We again urge the BLM to select an alternative plan that allows for appropriate resource development, respects our state’s rights, and is consistent with federal law, sound science, and economic realities.”

Burgum again recommended changes to the plan in his Oct. 9 consistency review, an appeals process reserved only for governors. The BLM State Director responded that they do “I don’t think it’s necessary to change” RMP, so Burgum made his final appeal Thursday to BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. On appeal, Burgum claims that the BLM State Director’s response was “not a serious attempt” to comply with the consistency assessment process.”

“In rejecting all of the governor’s consistency review recommendations, the state director failed to evaluate them seriously, largely refused to consider any balancing of North Dakota’s interest in the proposed RMP, and failed to adequately explain the that each of the governor’s recommendations was rejected. , instead often offering blanket denials to many of the governor’s objections,” it is specified in the appeal. “The State Director’s response also glossed over the unique nature of North Dakota land and mineral ownership, as well as many other issues raised in the consistency review.”

As part of the appeal, Burgum is also asking that Stone-Manning recuse herself from the matter because it has been announced that, starting in February 2025, she will begin serving as president of the Wilderness Society, which has previously intervened in litigation to defend the BLM public. land management rules being contested by North Dakota.

“Director Stone-Manning is certainly free to make whatever decisions she wants about her professional future, but she has now made the decision to lead an organization with a very defined advocacy position regarding the management and development of public lands, which is openly adverse to the interests of North Dakota, it would be both inappropriate and illegal under the STOCK Act for Director Stone-Manning to continue to rule on or become involved in disputes between North Dakota and BLM, including one handy,” it is specified in the appeal.