The Interior Department and the Energy Department are holding a two-day conference in Denver, Colorado, on rights-of-way on Indian lands.

The conference starts today. It focuses on a section of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that requires Interior and Energy to conduct a study on rights-of-way in energy agreements.

Retired Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado) is speaking this morning. He is criticizing the study as the first step in infringing tribal sovereignty through a legislative fix that would give energy companies the upper hand in rights-of-way talks.

The section came about as El Paso Natural Gas Company was negotiating with the Navajo Nation to extend a right-of-way agreement. El Paso has 900 miles of pipeline on the reservation but is balking at the compensation the tribe is seeking.

Get the Story:
Colo. gas at core of pipeline dispute (The Denver Post 3/7)

Get the Bill:
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6)

Relevant Links:
Department of Energy - http://www.energy.gov

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