NEW TOWN, N.D. – During her keynote address to MHA Nation’s Annual Bakken Oil and Gas Expo, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today spoke of the opportunities presented by energy production on tribal lands, while also discussing some of the challenges she is working to address. Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, highlighted the importance of building relationships and the industry’s need to improve coordination with MHA Nation.
“Since taking office, I have worked tirelessly to support North Dakota’s tribes, including educating my colleagues and federal agencies on important issues facing the tribes,” said Heitkamp. “Energy development is a critical tool for tribal economic development. It gives tribes the means to improve the safety of their communities, create affordable housing options, and tackle education and health disparities. However, it’s clear that the federal permitting process for oil and gas development in Indian Country is unnecessarily complicated and prevents energy companies from investing. That’s why I am committed to finding ways to streamline the process to eliminate delays and excessive requirements. And I will continue to push for similar commonsense improvements to help make sure the Federal government lives up to its responsibilities and respects the rights of tribes across North Dakota and the country.”
Heitkamp discussed plans she is working on in Washington to improve energy development in Indian Country. These include streamlining the federal permitting system for oil and gas development on tribal lands, protecting tribes from public drilling on sovereign lands, and an Indian Energy Bill she is working on with the new Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT).
As an example of ways she has been effective in pushing the federal government to support energy development in North Dakota, Heitkamp discussed legislation she wrote with Senator John Hoeven (R-ND). The bill, which was signed into law last December, is streamlining oil and gas permitting on federal lands in western North Dakota. The Bureau of Land Management Streamlining Act expands the service area of the Miles City, MT office to include North Dakota. The office will now be able to process permits for North Dakota, which will help to address backlog and delays.
In February, Heitkamp brought Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to North Dakota and showed her first-hand the impacts of EPA regulations on the state and its tribes. During the visit, McCarthy met with tribal leaders to learn about energy and environment issues impacting the tribes.
Heitkamp believes the energy policy championed in North Dakota – supporting the responsible development of diverse energy resources, including coal, wind, oil, biofuels, and natural gas – is a model that should be replicated on the national level. She feels strongly that the adoption of an all-of-the-above energy policy will improve energy independence and security.
Press release provided by US Senator Heidi Heitkamp
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