The Department of the Interior’s Push for Expedited Environmental Reviews of Oil and Gas and Critical Minerals Projects

Sarah C. Bordelon, Marcella C. Burke, Joshua B. Cook, and Andrew C. Mergen

In response to a declared national energy emergency, the Department of the Interior has announced sweeping measures to fast-track permitting for oil, gas, and critical minerals projects by dramatically shortening environmental review timelines. This webinar will examine the scope and implications of these unprecedented changes, including potential legal challenges and risks for project developers.

Credit(s)

2

Duration

87 minutes

Original Program Date

May 9, 2025

PRICING

Member Price: $65.00
Non-Member Price: $95.00

About this course

On April 23, 2025, the Department of the Interior announced unprecedented measures to accelerate permitting for oil and gas and critical minerals projects in response to President Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency. The Department and its bureaus will fast-track reviews under a trio of core environmental statutes—the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)—by adopting alternate compliance procedures. For example, environmental impact statements (EIS) that could otherwise take years to prepare can be issued within 28 days, and public participation opportunities will be significantly curtailed.


The Department’s directives seem to be a win for industries long frustrated by the length and complexity of environmental reviews. Yet the government has never sought to compress permitting timeframes so aggressively, raising questions about the legality and durability of these measures and the risks project proponents may face by relying on them.  

Join our panel of experts as they examine the accelerated measures, who stands to benefit, and the legal risks these measures may present.
Speakers
Credits
Materials
2 CLE Credits – Colorado

This course has been accredited for CLE credit in Colorado. CLE credit hours shown are for Colorado only. A CLE course number for Colorado will be provided to attendees on their certificates of attendance once a course has been completed. New Mexico attorneys who complete a course must notify us (cle@rmmlf.org) because we are required to report credits for you. If this course has been approved for RPL/CPL credit with the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), the credits will be listed below in a separate section for AAPL. If applicable, Component Codes for AAPL recertification will also be provided. Please contact RMMLF if you need independent verification by the provider of your attendance or participation for CLE purposes. Except as provided above, RMMLF generally does not apply for accreditation from any other MCLE/CPD organizations for its online legal education program. Upon completion of a program a certificate of attendance will be issued to all attendees. Except as provided above, attendees must verify with their respective state bars and CPD organizations and their specific rules as to whether or not the certificate of attendance will be recognized by that body for MCLE/CPD purposes, and the number of CLE/CPD credits that may be available. The live presentation of the on-demand program has been accredited in most mandatory states as part of a larger course, but such accreditation does not assure recognition of the on-demand program.

If available, this course will include materials (PowerPoints presentations and scholarly papers) authored by the speaker or speakers. The materials will be downloadable while viewing the presentation video.