Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential

January 20, 2025

Presidential Actions

View Original

Action Summary

Background and Rationale:
- Emphasizes Alaska’s vast, untapped natural resources (energy, minerals, timber, seafood) as key to national prosperity, job creation, trade balance improvement, and energy dominance.
- Calls for an immediate end to previous restrictions that have hindered resource development on both State and Federal lands in Alaska.
Policy Objectives:
- Maximize development and production of Alaska’s natural resources for national benefit.
- Expedite permitting and leasing processes, with a particular focus on liquified natural gas (LNG) potential, including sales and transportation to domestic and allied regions.
Specific Agency Actions:
- Executive Departments and Agencies:
  - Rescind, revise, or amend regulations and agency actions from January 2021 to January 2025 that conflict with the new policy.
  - Prioritize LNG project development, including permitting for pipelines and export infrastructure.
- Secretary of the Interior:
  - Withdraw and reverse secretarial orders and leasing cancellations in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, reinstating previous environmental impact statements and records of decision.
  - Place temporary moratoria on certain leasing decisions to reassess legal deficiencies and public interests.
  - Review and potentially rescind Public Land Order 5150 and related actions affecting Alaska Native lands and selection processes.
  - Review and reassess decisions concerning transportation, including expediting a road corridor between King Cove and Cold Bay’s all-weather airport.
  - Collaborate with the Department of Defense to assess resources and authorities needed for developing and exporting energy resources, and evaluating the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System’s role.
- Secretary of Agriculture:
  - Temporarily halt actions under the “Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Alaska” rule to reexamine legal deficiencies, and reinstate previous rules where appropriate.
- Secretary of the Army and Related Officials:
  - Prioritize assistance to Alaska regarding transportation infrastructure and clear any hindrances to critical projects.
- Secretary of Commerce:
  - In coordination with the Interior, review and revise any measures that delay critical projects in Alaska.
General Provisions:
- Clarifies that the executive order does not impair statutory authority of other agencies or officials.
- Implementation is subject to existing laws and appropriations and does not create legally enforceable rights against the government.

Risks & Considerations

The Executive Order aims to maximize resource development in Alaska, which could lead to increased environmental concerns and regulatory scrutiny. This may impact research and academic programs related to environmental science and policy at Vanderbilt University.
There is a potential risk of legal challenges and public opposition to the reversal of previous restrictions on resource development, which could create an unstable regulatory environment. This may affect research funding and partnerships related to environmental and energy policy.
The focus on energy dominance and resource extraction could shift federal funding priorities, potentially affecting grants and research opportunities in renewable energy and sustainability initiatives.
Vanderbilt University may need to consider how these changes in federal policy could influence its strategic priorities, particularly in areas related to environmental law, policy, and engineering.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt Law School may see increased demand for expertise in environmental law and policy, particularly in relation to federal and state regulatory changes.
School of Engineering could be impacted by shifts in research funding towards fossil fuel development, necessitating adjustments in research focus and collaboration opportunities.
The Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment might need to adapt its research agenda to align with new federal priorities and explore opportunities for collaboration with government agencies and industry partners.
Programs focused on indigenous rights and cultural studies may need to address the implications of resource development on Alaska Native communities, potentially leading to new research and advocacy initiatives.

Financial Impact

The reallocation of federal resources towards energy and resource development in Alaska could impact the availability of funding for environmental and sustainability research at Vanderbilt University.
Vanderbilt may need to explore alternative funding sources and partnerships to support research and initiatives that align with its strategic priorities in sustainability and environmental stewardship.
There may be opportunities for Vanderbilt to secure funding for research and development in energy policy and resource management, particularly through collaborations with federal agencies and industry stakeholders.
Changes in federal policy could influence the university’s investment strategies and endowment management, particularly in relation to fossil fuel divestment and sustainable investment practices.

Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents moderate risks involving compliance and potential shifts in research funding priorities.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Environmental and Energy Law Program should analyze the implications of the executive order on natural resource management and energy policy. This analysis can provide insights into potential legal challenges and opportunities for research and advocacy in environmental law.
The Office of Federal Relations should monitor developments in federal policies related to energy and natural resource projects in Alaska. Engaging with policymakers and stakeholders can help Vanderbilt align its research initiatives with national priorities and secure potential funding opportunities.
Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering could explore research collaborations focused on the development and transportation of liquified natural gas (LNG) and other energy resources. This could include technological innovations in pipeline infrastructure and energy efficiency.
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences should consider conducting research on the environmental impacts of resource extraction in Alaska. This research can contribute to the broader understanding of sustainable resource management and inform policy decisions.

Opportunities

The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Center for Environmental Management Studies to engage in policy analysis and advocacy related to the development of Alaska’s natural resources. By providing evidence-based recommendations, the center can influence how these resources are managed and utilized.
Vanderbilt can capitalize on the increased focus on energy dominance by developing new programs and partnerships with industry leaders in the energy sector. This could include joint research initiatives, student internships, and collaborative projects, enhancing Vanderbilt’s reputation and reach in the energy field.
The emphasis on expediting permitting and leasing processes offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Public Policy Studies to analyze the regulatory landscape and propose improvements that balance economic development with environmental protection.
By engaging with the broader energy and environmental community, Vanderbilt can position itself as a leader in the national conversation on resource management and energy policy. Hosting conferences, workshops, and public forums on the implications of these policies can further establish Vanderbilt as a hub for innovative thought and practice.

Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents some adjustments needed to Vanderbilt’s research and policy engagement strategies due to changes in energy and resource management policies.)

Average Relevance Score: 3.8

Timeline for Implementation

Immediate implementation upon issuance on January 20, 2025. Many directives in the order use the term “immediately” and “expedite,” indicating that actions are required as soon as the order is issued without any additional delay.

Relevance Score: 5

Impacted Government Organizations

Department of the Interior: Tasked with rescinding, revising, or reinstating multiple orders and regulations impacting resource leasing, development, and environmental assessments on Federal and State lands in Alaska, including directives on Alaska Native lands and public land orders.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Directed to rescind specific final rules and guidance related to the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and manage associated regulatory changes.
Department of Commerce: Required to expedite permitting and review any agency actions delaying critical natural resource projects, working through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.
Department of the Army: Through its Public Works and Civil Works divisions, ordered to assist in reviewing and resolving delays in transportation infrastructure projects and other critical initiatives in Alaska.
Department of Agriculture: Instructed to impose temporary moratoriums on certain regulations affecting National Forest System Lands in Alaska and to reinstate prior conservation rules.
National Park Service: Mandated to review and adjust rules concerning hunting, trapping, and land management in Alaska’s national preserves.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Directed to deny the pending request to establish an indigenous sacred site in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Department of Defense: Collaborates with other agencies to assess and mobilize resources for the export and development of Alaska’s energy resources, ensuring the viability of critical energy corridors like the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.

Relevance Score: 3 (Six to ten Federal Agencies are directly impacted by this order.)

Responsible Officials

Secretary of the Interior – Charged with rescinding, revising, or reinstating a host of orders and regulations affecting natural resource development in Alaska, including leasing, environmental impact statements, and public land orders.
Secretary of Commerce (via the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere) – Responsible for reviewing and revising any agency actions that could hinder resource development projects in Alaska.
Secretary of the Army – Acting both through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Public Works and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, tasked with facilitating transportation infrastructure projects in Alaska and addressing any delays or hindrances to critical projects.
Secretary of Agriculture – Directed to impose a temporary moratorium and later reinstate rules related to National Forest System lands and roadless area conservation in Alaska.
Secretary of Defense – Involved in the approval process for transportation infrastructure support requests, highlighting its role in the broader interagency coordination.
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy – Required to review and approve assistance requests for major infrastructure projects in Alaska alongside the aforementioned officials.
Heads of all executive departments and agencies – Empowered to use their full legal authority to rescind or modify any conflicting regulations or agency actions implemented between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025, to align with the order’s policy.

Relevance Score: 5 (Directives affect Cabinet-level officials and multiple high-level agency heads, significantly impacting national resource development and strategic infrastructure projects.)