Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said the administration’s proposed plan ‘stifles North Dakota’s energy development’ and its production. The Biden administration unveiled its final resource management plan for North Dakota on Aug. 9, which suggests restricting future coal leases on federal lands in the state. The BLM also proposed closing oil and gas leases in any areas of North Dakota identified as having “low developmental potential” or state-designated drinking water source protection areas.

The Biden administration this week issued a proposal to significantly reduce the amount of federal land in North Dakota that can be used for mining coal in the future, The Hill reports. Under the plan, the amount of federal land eligible for coal development would drop by more than 90%. The administration said the move won't affect coal production levels through 2040, but noted it would "preclude the development of future mines." The proposed restrictions apply only to land owned by the federal government. North Dakota is the fifth largest...