The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is proposing to streamline the approval process for oil and natural gas development in national forests and grasslands.

U.S. Forest Service

The proposed rule, issued on Tuesday, is posted in the Federal Register and available for public comment until Nov. 2.

The overhaul, part of a larger mandate by the Trump administration to encourage mineral extraction on federal acreage, “would align Forest Service processes with those of the Department of the Interior to provide more clarity and consistency for oil and gas permitting on public lands,” USFS said.

“The changes also emphasize lease operator responsibilities, which include safeguarding natural resources, and clarify what management actions the Forest Service may take when operators are not in...