BLM Approves Faster Permits for Winter Oil Exploration in Alaska's NPR

The Bureau of Land Management announced a categorical exclusion that will simplify and speed up permitting for wintertime oil and gas activities in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve. The move is intended to improve predictability for companies and reduce administrative burdens for projects such as seismic surveys, exploration wells and plugging and abandonment. BLM officials said their analysis of dozens of past environmental assessments shows these winter activities have not caused significant impacts to human health or the environment when conducted under established guidelines, supporting continued energy development and national security goals.