North Dakota Governor Appeals BLM Resource Plan

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has filed a final appeal against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) updated Resource Management Plan (RMP), citing repeated failures by the agency to consider the state's concerns. The appeal follows two previous attempts to persuade the BLM to amend the plan, which Burgum argues threatens electrical grid reliability, national security, and could increase energy costs for consumers. The RMP would restrict leasing on almost all federal coal acreage in North Dakota and significantly limit access to fluid mineral acreage, potentially costing the state $34 million annually and jeopardizing over 12,000 coal-related jobs. Burgum has also requested the recusal of BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning due to her upcoming leadership role with the Wilderness Society, arguing it presents a conflict of interest. He urges the BLM to adopt an alternative plan that respects state rights and aligns with legal and economic realities. This appeal marks one of Burgum’s last actions as governor before potentially stepping into a federal role overseeing the BLM.