Energy development in Indian Country was the focus of two hearings on Capitol Hill this week.

On Wednesday, the House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing on H.R.3973, the Native American Energy Act. Tribes support the bill, which will remove federal burdens that can tie up energy projects for years.

A similar message was heard before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, which held an oversight hearing on energy development on Thursday. Tracey A. LeBeau, the director of the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs at the Department of Energy, said federal regulations make it difficult for tribes to tap into their own resources.

Get the Story:
Fort Peck leader asks for speedier permit, lease processes (The Great Falls Tribune 2/17)
Tribes want to regulate oil exploration on land (Scripps Howard Foundation Wire 2/17)
Congress urged to open native land to energy development (The Alaska Dispatch 2/17)
Tribes back bill to ease federal oversight of Indian-land energy projects (Cronkite News Service 2/16)
Navajo Vice President Urges Lawmakers to End Regulatory Burdens (Navajo Nation Washington Office 2/16)

Committee Notice:
Oversight Hearing on Energy Development in Indian Country (February 16, 2012)
Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3973 (February 15, 2012)

Related Stories:
Witness list for SCIA hearing on Indian energy development (2/14)
Witness list for House hearing on tribal energy development (2/14)