Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential
Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Background. The State of Alaska holds an
abundant and largely untapped supply of natural
resources including, among others, energy, mineral,
timber, and seafood. Unlocking this bounty of natural
wealth will raise the prosperity of our citizens while
helping to enhance our Nation's economic and national
security for generations to come. By developing these
resources to the fullest extent possible, we can help
deliver price relief for Americans, create high-quality
jobs for our citizens, ameliorate our trade imbalances,
augment the Nation's exercise of global energy
dominance, and guard against foreign powers weaponizing
energy supplies in theaters of geopolitical conflict.
Unleashing this opportunity, however, requires an
immediate end to the assault on Alaska's sovereignty
and its ability to responsibly develop these resources
for the benefit of the Nation. It is, therefore,
imperative to immediately reverse the punitive
restrictions implemented by the previous administration
that specifically target resource development on both
State and Federal lands in Alaska.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States
to:
(a) fully avail itself of Alaska's vast lands and
resources for the benefit of the Nation and the
American citizens who call Alaska home;
(b) efficiently and effectively maximize the
development and production of the natural resources
located on both Federal and State lands within Alaska;
(c) expedite the permitting and leasing of energy
and natural resource projects in Alaska; and
(d) prioritize the development of Alaska's
liquified natural gas (LNG) potential, including the
sale and transportation of Alaskan LNG to other regions
of the United States and allied nations within the
Pacific region.
Sec. 3. Specific Agency Actions. (a) The heads of all
executive departments and agencies, including but not
limited to the Secretary of the Interior; the Secretary
of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; and the Secretary
of the Army acting through the Assistant Secretary of
the Army for Public Works, shall exercise all lawful
authority and discretion available to them and take all
necessary steps to:
(i) rescind, revoke, revise, amend, defer, or grant exemptions from any and
all regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and any other
similar agency actions that are inconsistent with the policy set forth in
section 2 of this order, including but not limited to agency actions
promulgated, issued, or adopted between January 20, 2021, and January 20,
2025; and
(ii) prioritize the development of Alaska's LNG potential, including the
permitting of all necessary pipeline and export infrastructure related to
the Alaska LNG Project, giving due consideration to the economic and
national security benefits associated with such development.
(b) In addition to the actions outlined in
subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of the
Interior shall exercise all lawful authority and
discretion available to him and take all necessary
steps to:
(i) withdraw Secretarial Order 3401 dated June 1, 2021 (Comprehensive
Analysis and Temporary Halt on All Activities in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge Relating to the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program);
(ii) rescind the cancellation of any leases within the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge, other than such lease cancellations as the Secretary of
the Interior determines are consistent with the policy interests described
in section 2 of this order, initiate additional leasing through the Coastal
Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, and issue all permits, right-of-way
permits, and easements necessary for the exploration, development, and
production of oil and gas from leases within the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge;
(iii) rescind the final supplemental environmental impact statement
entitled ``Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement,'' which is referred to in ``Notice of
Availability of the Final Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska'' 89 Fed. Reg. 88805
(November 8, 2024);
(iv) place a temporary moratorium on all activities and privileges granted
to any party pursuant to the record of decision signed on December 8, 2024,
entitled ``Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision,''
which is referred to in ``Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision
for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Coastal
Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Alaska,'' 89 Fed. Reg. 101042 (December
13, 2024), in order to review such record of decision in light of alleged
legal deficiencies and for consideration of relevant public interests, and,
as appropriate, conduct a new, comprehensive analysis of such deficiencies,
interests, and environmental impacts;
(v) reinstate the final environmental impact statement entitled ``Final
Environmental Impact Statement for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing
Program,'' which is referred to in ``Notice of Availability,'' 84 Fed. Reg.
50472 (September 25, 2019);
(vi) reinstate the record of decision signed on August 21, 2020, entitled
``Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision,'' which is
referred to in ``Notice of 2021 Coastal Plain Alaska Oil and Gas Lease Sale
and Notice of Availability of the Detailed Statement of Sale,'' 85 Fed.
Reg. 78865 (December 7, 2020);
(vii) evaluate changes to, including the potential recission of, Public
Land Order 5150, signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior on
December 28, 1971, and any subsequent amendments, modifications, or
corrections to it;
(viii) place a temporary moratorium on all activities and privileges
granted to any party pursuant to the record of decision signed on June 27,
2024, entitled ``Ambler Road Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
Record of Decision,'' which is referred to in ``Notice of Availability of
the Ambler Road Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement,
Alaska,'' 89 Fed. Reg. 32458 (April 26, 2024), in order to review such
record of decision in light of alleged legal deficiencies and for
consideration of relevant public interests and, as appropriate, conduct a
new, comprehensive analysis of such deficiencies, interests, and
environmental impacts; and reinstate the record of decision signed on July
23, 2020, by the Bureau of Land Management and United States Army Corps of
Engineers entitled ``Ambler Road Environmental Impact Statement Joint
Record of Decision,'' which is referred to in ``Notice of Availability of
the Record of Decision for the Ambler Mining District Industrial Access
Road Environmental Impact Statement,'' 85 Fed. Reg. 45440 (July 28, 2020);
(ix) rescind the Bureau of Land Management final rule entitled ``Management
and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska,'' 89 Fed. Reg.
38712 (May 7, 2024);
(x) rescind any guidance issued by the Bureau of Land Management related to
implementation of protection of subsistence resource values in the existing
special areas and proposed new and modified special areas in the National
Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, as published on their website on January 16,
2025;
(xi) facilitate the expedited development of a road corridor between the
community of King Cove and the all-weather airport located in Cold Bay;
(xii) place a temporary moratorium on all activities and privileges granted
to any party pursuant to the record of decision signed on April 25, 2022,
entitled ``National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan
Record of Decision,'' (NEPA No. DOI-BLM-AK-R000-2019-0001-EIS), in order to
review such record of decision in light of alleged legal deficiencies and
for consideration of relevant public interests and, as appropriate, conduct
a new, comprehensive analysis of such deficiencies, interests, and
environmental impacts;
(xiii) rescind the Bureau of Land Management final rule entitled
``Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska,''
89 Fed. Reg. 38712 (May 7, 2024), and rescind the Bureau of Land Management
notice entitled ``Special Areas Within the National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska,'' 89 Fed. Reg. 58181 (July 17, 2024);
(xiv) reinstate Secretarial Order 3352 dated May 17, 2017 (National
Petroleum Reserve--Alaska), which is referred to in ``Final Report: Review
of the Department of the Interior Actions that Potentially Burden Domestic
Energy,'' 82 Fed. Reg. 50532 (November 1, 2017), and the record of decision
signed on December 31, 2020, entitled ``National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision,'' which is referred to
in ``Notice of Availability of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
Integrated Activity Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement,'' 85 Fed.
Reg. 38388 (June 26, 2020);
(xv) reinstate the following Public Land Orders in their original form:
a. Public Land Order No. 7899, signed by the Secretary of the Interior on
January 11, 2021;
b. Public Land Order No. 7900, signed by the Secretary of the Interior on
January 16, 2021;
c. Public Land Order No. 7901, signed by the Secretary of the Interior on
January 16, 2021;
d. Public Land Order No. 7902, signed by the Secretary of the Interior on
January 15, 2021;
e. Public Land Order No. 7903, signed by the Secretary of the Interior on
January 16, 2021; and
f. any other such Public Land Order that the Secretary of the Interior
determines would further the policy interests described in section 2 of
this order.
(xvi) immediately review all Department of the Interior guidance regarding
the taking of Alaska Native lands into trust and all Public Land Orders
withdrawing lands for selection by Alaska Native Corporations to determine
if any such agency action should be revoked to ensure the Department of the
Interior's actions are consistent with the Alaska Statehood Act of 1958
(Public Law 85-508), the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
(ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
of 1971 (43 U.S.C. 1601, et seq.), the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration
Act (Public Law 108-452), and the Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Land
Allotment Program under section 1629g-1 of title 43, United States Code.
(xvii) rescind the record of decision ``Central Yukon Record of Decision
and Approved Resource Management Plan,'' signed on November 12, 2024, which
is referred to in ``Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision and
Approved Resource Management Plan for the Central Yukon Resource Management
Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska,'' 89 Fed. Reg. 92716 (November
22, 2024);
(xviii) reimplement the draft resource management plan and environmental
impact statement referenced in the National Park Service notice entitled
``Notice of Availability for the Central Yukon Draft Resource Management
Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska,'' 85 Fed. Reg. 80143 (December
11, 2020);
(xix) rescind the National Park Service final rule entitled ``Alaska;
Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves,'' 89 Fed. Reg. 55059 (July 3,
2024), and reinstate the National Park Service final rule entitled
``Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves,'' 85 Fed. Reg. 35181
(June 9, 2020), in its original form;
(xx) deny the pending request to the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service to an establish indigenous sacred site in the Coastal Plain of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;
(xxi) immediately conduct a review of waterways in the State of Alaska and
direct the Bureau of Land Management, in consultation with the State of
Alaska, to provide recommendations of navigable waterways subject to the
equal footing doctrine and the Submerged Lands Act of 1953, as amended, 43
U.S.C. 1301 et seq., and prepare Recordable Disclaimers of Interest
pursuant to section 315 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, 43 U.S.C. 1745, to restore ownership of said waterways to the State
as appropriate;
(xxii) direct all bureaus of the Department of the Interior to consider the
Alaskan cultural significance of hunting and fishing and the statutory
priority of subsistence management required by the ANILCA, to conduct
meaningful consultation with the State fish and wildlife management
agencies prior to enacting land management plans or other regulations that
affect the ability of Alaskans to hunt and fish on public lands, and to
ensure to the greatest extent possible that hunting and fishing
opportunities on Federal lands are consistent with similar opportunities on
State lands; and
(xxiii) identify and assess, in collaboration with the Secretary of
Defense, the authorities and public and private resources necessary to
immediately achieve the development and export of energy resources from
Alaska--including but not limited to the long-term viability of the Trans-
Alaska Pipeline System and the associated Federal right-of-way as an energy
corridor of critical national importance--to advance the Nation's domestic
and regional energy dominance, and submit that assessment to the President.
(c) In addition to the actions outlined in
subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of
Agriculture shall place a temporary moratorium on all
activities and privileges authorized by the final rule
and record of decision entitled ``Special Areas;
Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System
Lands in Alaska,'' 88 Fed. Reg. 5252 (January 27,
2023), in order to review such rule and record of
decision in light of alleged legal deficiencies and for
consideration of relevant public interests and, as
appropriate, conduct a new, comprehensive analysis of
such deficiencies, interests, and environmental
impacts. Further, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
reinstate the final rule entitled ``Special Areas;
Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System
Lands in Alaska,'' 85 Fed. Reg. 68688 (October 29,
2020).
(d) In addition to the actions outlined in
subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of the
Army, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, shall render all assistance
requested by the Governor of Alaska to facilitate the
clearing and maintenance of transportation
infrastructure, consistent with applicable law. All
such requests for assistance shall be transmitted to
the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Interior,
and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy for
approval prior to initiation.
(e) The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil
Works, under the direction of the Secretary of the
Army, shall immediately review, revise, or rescind any
agency action that may in any way hinder, slow or
otherwise delay any critical project in the State of
Alaska.
(f) The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with
the Secretary of the Interior, shall immediately
review, revise or rescind any agency action that may in
any way hinder, slow or otherwise delay any critical
project in the State of Alaska.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 20, 2025.