Senate bill would void Alaska land management plan covering 9 million acres

What does this do?

SJRES 63 uses the Congressional Review Act to cancel the Central Yukon Resource Management Plan, finalized by the Bureau of Land Management in November 2024. That plan set rules for roughly 9 million acres of federal land in interior Alaska, defining which areas could be used for oil and gas drilling, mining, and grazing, and which would receive stricter protections. The bill, introduced by Alaska's two senators, would strip the plan of all legal effect.

Who does it affect?

The bill directly affects oil and gas companies, mining operations, hunters, Alaska Native communities, and environmental groups with interests in central Alaska. Federal land managers and state officials are also affected, as the decision governs what activities are permitted across a large portion of Alaska's interior.

Why does it matter?

If passed, the federal government would no longer be bound by the 2024 land use rules, which could reopen areas to resource development that the plan had restricted. The BLM would likely need to develop new management guidelines for the region, a process that could take years.

Where does it stand?