Trump Proposes Cutting Federal Drilling Comment Periods to 10 Days, Slashing Cleanup Bonds 95%
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 29
Trump Proposes Cutting Federal Drilling Comment Periods to 10 Days, Slashing Cleanup Bonds 95%
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 29
Summary
Interior Department proposals would eliminate two 30-day public comment windows for federal oil and gas lease sales and cut the remaining protest period to 10 days from 30.
The same package would lower required cleanup bonds for future wells to $25,000 from $500,000 and drop a Biden-era requirement that drillers certify gas capture plans to limit methane releases.
BLM also would no longer have to assess whether lease areas conflict with wildlife habitat or other resources before offering land for drilling, narrowing environmental review before sales are finalized.
Administration officials say the changes would streamline outdated procedures and boost domestic energy production, while environmental groups argue they shift cleanup risk to taxpayers and weaken democratic oversight.
The move fits a broader Trump rollback of public-input rules across environmental reviews, including recent proposals by the Forest Service and EPA to shorten or make comment periods optional.
With public input on energy leasing cut to just 10 days, can local voices still be heard?
New rules slash oil drilling cleanup bonds. Are taxpayers now facing a multi-billion dollar liability?
2026 Trump Deregulation of Oil & Gas: Methane Rule Repeal, Bond Cuts, and the Future of U.S. Energy Policy
Overview
In June 2026, the Trump administration proposed major changes to federal oil and gas drilling regulations on public lands, aiming to reduce costs and regulatory barriers for energy companies. This move follows the February 2026 repeal of the scientific finding that climate change endangers human health and the environment, which removed the federal government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas pollution. The Interior Department’s proposed revisions include loosening environmental rules, such as rolling back methane regulations, and will be open for a 60-day public comment period. These actions are seen as a victory for fossil fuel interests and mark a significant shift in U.S. energy and environmental policy.