The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Hearing on Barriers to Energy Development on Tribal Lands
Record date · January 1, 2018
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
This House subcommittee hearing examined the regulatory challenges tribes face when attempting to develop energy resources on their lands. Witnesses and committee members discussed how federal trust management and complex regulations impact the ability of tribes to utilize coal, oil, and natural gas reserves for economic growth.
The hearing addresses federal regulatory policies that influence the economic development potential and revenue-generating capacity of tribal lands containing significant U.S. energy reserves.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Tribal Nations
Tribal governments are subject to federal trust management and regulatory processes when seeking to develop energy resources on their lands.
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The agency is responsible for the management of tribal lands and the administration of regulatory oversight for energy projects.
Key Facts
- Tribal lands contain an estimated 30 percent of U.S. coal reserves west of the Mississippi.
- Tribal lands contain an estimated 20 percent of known U.S. natural gas and oil reserves.
- The Crow Nation in Montana holds approximately 9 billion tons of coal.
- Native Americans are statistically twice as likely to live in poverty compared to the general U.S. population.
Show all 7 facts
- Most tribal land is held in trust by the Federal Government, requiring Bureau of Indian Affairs oversight for development.
- Energy development projects on tribal lands currently face higher costs than similar projects on private or non-tribal federal lands due to regulatory burdens.
- The hearing took place on July 17, 2018, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it harder to develop energy on tribal land than on private land?
What energy resources are located on tribal lands?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Regulatory Cost Disparity
The hearing highlights a documented cost disadvantage for energy projects on tribal lands compared to private or non-tribal federal lands.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools