Bill Cuts Red Tape, Helps Create Jobs in Indian Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2011. The bill will give Indian tribes more tools to develop their energy resources and to remove unnecessary barriers to economic development.
“Across the country, millions of Americans are out of work. Unemployment is even higher in Indian Country – much of which has suffered for decades with joblessness and lack of economic development,” said Barrasso.
“For years, Indian tribes have expressed concerns about Federal laws and regulations regarding energy development. Tribes that want to create jobs in their communities often face delays and uncertainty because of policies coming out of Washington.
“My bill will help break down barriers to energy development in Indian Country. It will spur economic development, provide Indian people with an opportunity to make a good living, and give the tribes greater control over the management and development of their own trust resources.”
Background
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 included an Indian Energy title—Title V. Title V was enacted to deal with the delays and uncertainties that are inherent in the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ energy leasing process. This bill provided Indian tribes with an alternative way to develop their energy resources.
More than 6 years after the enactment of this legislation, it appears that no tribe has yet availed itself of the new energy development process.
The Barrasso bill includes a number of amendments to the process established in 2005. His amendments will cut red tape and make it easier for the Indian tribes to develop their own resources.
The bill addresses other aspects of Indian tribal energy development, including a “biomass demonstration project” for biomass energy production from Indian forest lands, rangelands and other Federal lands in accordance with program requirements developed by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture after consultation with Indian tribes. This amendment would facilitate the development of tribal biomass projects by providing them with more reliable and potentially long-term supplies of woody biomass materials.
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