The Western Caucus praised the U.S. House passage, on a bipartisan vote, the Native American Energy Act. H.R.538 empowers tribes to develop more of their natural resources and loosens federal bureaucratic restrictions which are often duplicative and can add years of delay.
The Native American Energy Act streamlines burdensome and duplicative government regulations and increases the opportunity for Indian tribes to develop energy resources on their own land to create jobs and increase American energy production.
The bill addresses specific concerns from various Indian County leaders about getting approval from the Secretary of the Interior for energy development, while promoting and encouraging increased energy production on tribal lands by reducing government barriers and streamlining burdensome procedures.
Specifically, H.R. 3973:
Streamlines the appraisal process to allow for more expedited appraisals of Indian land by the Secretary of the Interior and respects sovereignty of Indian tribes by directly involving affected tribes to participate in the environmental review processes.
Establishes no less than five Indian energy development offices across Indian Country to help better facilitate the tribal relationship with federal regulators during the process of exploration, development and energy production on Indian lands.
Lowers the cost for Indian tribes to produce energy on their own land by prohibiting the Bureau of Land Management from collecting application for permit to drill fees.
Reduces unnecessary and frivolous lawsuits that are specifically designed to prevent Indians from producing energy on their own land and eliminates taxpayer compensation to those filing lawsuits to prohibit energy development on Indian lands.
Allows the Navajo Nation to conduct their own mineral leasing without involvement of the Department of the Interior as long as the leasing is conducted under Navajo tribal leasing laws that received prior approval from the Secretary of the Interior. This provision effectively removes Interior from the day-to-day management of Navajo energy leasing and increases Navajo sovereignty over its natural resources.
Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-at large), bill sponsor stated after passage, “Native American tribes should be able to decide for themselves on how best to pursue responsible energy production on their land, and this bill will help them overcome federal obstacles to doing so,” said Chairman Lummis. “Tribes love their lands, understand their communities, and deserve sovereignty over their natural resources. The last thing they need is Washington and the courts standing between them and crucial economic opportunities.”
Western Caucus member Rep. Don Young (AK-at large) stated, “The Native American Energy Act is critically important to Native Americans because it encourages tribal energy development which will be a huge step towards self determination for America’s tribes. The Judicial Review provisions are crucial for Alaska Natives, whose ability to develop their land claim settlement lands has been abused by special interest groups filing lawsuits from outside. These lands, given by this Congress to Alaska Natives, are now being interfered with by outside interest groups.”
“The federal government is actively hindering energy development on tribal lands, and that’s according to the federal government,” said Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-at large). “Montana’s sovereign tribes have the right to develop and manage resources on their own land. What tribes are seeking for is what we are all asking for: economic opportunity, the ability to protect the environment, and create a better and more stable life for future generations. The federal government does not have the right to take away the sovereignty of these nations.”
“The Crow Nation is grateful to have a friend in Congressman Ryan Zinke,” said Crow Nation Chairman Darrin Old Coyote. “We support the Native American Energy Act because it gives tribes more control over the natural resources on our own lands, allowing us to create more good paying jobs and increase revenues for the community. Whether it’s coal, oil, or biomass, energy development is critical to the economic empowerment of tribes.”