September 5, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Today, the American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) issued the following statement praising the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) adoption of 65 categorical exclusions (CXs) from other federal agencies under Section 109 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This regulatory action will enable more efficient approvals for certain routine, low-impact oil and natural gas production activities on federal lands.
Anne Bradbury, AXPC CEO, said:
“This action represents a step forward for American energy production and regulatory efficiency, and we applaud BLM for cutting unnecessary red tape out of the permitting process. The American people need affordable, reliable energy, and accelerating environmental reviews means independent producers can deliver it at greater speed. Streamlining the NEPA process advances America’s energy security, and we urge Congress to pass comprehensive permitting reform that includes ensuring agencies fully utilize these common-sense efficiencies into law.”
BACKGROUND
BLM’s Adoption of Additional CXs
- BLM streamlined its environmental review process – a component of the federal permitting process for energy development – by adopting 65 proven CXs from other federal agencies under Section 109 of NEPA, enabling faster approvals for activities on public lands that have previously been determined not to cause significant environmental impacts.
- These CXs apply to qualified activities that regularly occur in standard operations because of their minimal environmental impact that have been successfully used across the federal government, eliminating the need for lengthy Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements – environmental review documents designed to comply with NEPA.
- Environmental safeguards remain in place. Application of a CX has no effect on other environmental statutes whose requirements remain in effect, such as to protect endangered species, cultural resources, or sensitive habitats.
Why It Matters for Oil & Natural Gas Exploration and Production
- Faster permitting: Adopting CXs enables BLM to more rapidly approve certain oil and natural gas exploration and production activities.
- Covered activities: Certain oil and natural gas operations including pre-lease exploration, exploratory drilling, well modifications and abandonments, pipeline construction, site characterization, and environmental cleanup activities are now eligible for CXs.
