Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued two Secretarial Orders to prioritize action on climate change and to revoke numerous Trump-administration Secretarial Orders that encouraged fossil fuel energy production and streamlined NEPA review for energy and infrastructure projects on DOI-managed land.

On Friday, April 19, 2020, Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland issued two Secretarial Orders: 1) SO 3399, which establishes a Climate Task Force to prioritize action on climate change to accelerate renewable energy development; and 2) SO 3398, which revokes numerous Trump-era Secretarial Orders that primarily encouraged fossil fuel development and streamlined the permitting process for infrastructure and energy projects.  (See https://www.doi.gov/news/secretary-haaland-establishes-climate-task-force-strengthens-scientific-integrity.)  Notably, SO 3398 revokes the March 29, 2019, SO 3349 (American Energy Independence), which promoted American energy independence and encouraged job creation for Americans through development of DOI lands.

SO 3398 also revoked the Trump-era Secretarial Order SO 3359 (Executive Committee for Expedited Permitting), which established a committee to reduce the “permitting backlogs and regulatory delays” that had hampered “American energy dominance.”  (See SO https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so_3358_executive_committee_for_expedited_permitting_0.pdf.)  Additionally, SO 3398 revoked Secretarial Order SO 3355 (Streamlining National Environmental Policy Act Reviews and Implementation of Executive Order 13807), which sought to streamline the NEPA environmental review process for infrastructure projects involving DOI-managed land.  (See https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/3355_-_streamlining_national_environmental_policy_reviews_and_implementation_of_executive_order_13807_establishing_discipline_and_accountability_in_the_environmental_review_and_permitting_process_for.pdf.) These recent actions by DOI Secretary Deb Haaland highlight the Biden Administration’s focus on climate change action, and its disfavor of fossil fuel energy development on public lands.

Chris Powell contributed to this article.