Alaska — The Department of the Interior announced Tuesday that it has finalized a rule rescinding the 2024 Bureau of Land Management regulations governing the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A), a move officials say will unlock long-restricted energy potential across roughly 23 million acres on Alaska’s North Slope.
“By rescinding the 2024 rule, we are following the direction set by President Trump to unlock Alaska’s energy potential, create jobs for North Slope communities and strengthen American energy security,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This action restores common-sense management and ensures responsible development benefits both Alaska and the nation.”
First established in 1923 as a federally designated petroleum reserve, the NPR-A has long been central to national energy strategy. Interior officials said reversing the 2024 restrictions advances the administration’s goal of strengthening American Energy Dominance by reducing dependence on foreign oil and accelerating domestic production.
The final rule carries out President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14153, issued on his first day in office, and responds to requests from Alaskans, including North Slope leaders, to restore the regulatory framework that existed prior to 2024. Under the change, BLM will manage the reserve using 2025 regulations aligned with standards originally set in 1977.
Interior officials said the shift reduces regulatory burdens, increases flexibility for responsible development, and positions the reserve to deliver its full economic benefits to both the nation and communities on the North Slope.
The decision is part of a broader Interior initiative to modernize federal resource policy in Alaska. It follows the withdrawal of three restrictive policy documents that expanded special-area limitations, signaling a renewed commitment to development while maintaining environmental protections.
The final rule will be published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2025.
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