Today, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing on the permitting process for natural resources in Indian Country and how to strengthen and streamline development. Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) issued the following statement in response:

“Today’s hearing is an opportunity to address a concern I hear consistently from tribal leaders: when it comes to developing natural resources on tribal lands, the federal system is not operating as it should. Tribes are prepared to develop their resources and strengthen their economies, yet they are too often met with delays, duplicative reviews and a lack of clear accountability in the federal process. Our focus should be on making that process more predictable and more efficient. That means improving coordination across agencies, providing greater certainty for projects and ensuring that federal actions respect tribal decision-making. When we get that right, it leads to tangible outcomes—job creation, increased local revenue and stronger, more self-sustaining communities across Indian Country.”

Background

Tribal natural resource development is a sovereignty issue. When tribes develop their own resources, they create jobs and generate revenue that supports essential governmental services for their communities.

Tribal lands hold significant energy and mineral resources. However, development of these resources is constrained by a fragmented federal approval process involving multiple agencies and dozens of steps. This creates delays and uncertainty that deter investment and prevent otherwise viable projects from moving forward.

Chairman Bruce Westerman’s Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act and many of President Trump’s executive orders including EO 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” EO 14156, “Declaring A National Energy Emergency,” EO 14213, “Establishing the National Energy Dominance Council,” EO 14241, “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production,” and EO 14261 “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 1424,” streamline permitting, reduce duplication and provide greater certainty for tribes working to develop their natural resources. However, additional reforms are possible to ensure that federal processes do not continue to limit development on tribal lands.

For more information on the hearing, click here.