Cramer Statement on Department of Interior Attempt to Overturn Venting, Flaring Preliminary Injunction

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In September, North Dakota won a preliminary injunction against the U.S. Department of the Interior to block the Biden administration venting and flaring rule in North Dakota v. U.S. Department of the Interior. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) venting and flaring rule establishes a new royalty on flared gas, institutes monthly limits on allowable flaring, and adds new application requirements for operators regarding their ability to capture natural gas before obtaining a drilling permit. North Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming filed a lawsuit in North Dakota Federal District Court to challenge the rule and protect their interests.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released a statement following the U.S. Department of the Interior appeal on the preliminary injunction:

"This appeal is a last-ditch effort to force the swamp's punitive, anti-domestic energy agenda. BLM's rule oversteps the Department of Interior's authority and strangles oil and gas producers with more red tape. The Trump administration will take a markedly different approach, making this appeal desperate and dilatory at best. The court should maintain the injunction."

In May, Cramer commended North Dakota on its filing of the request for a preliminary injunction. In March, Cramer issued a statement in response to BLM's announcement of the final rule. When the lawsuit was filed in April, Cramer applauded North Dakota's leadership in the suit.