The two-page order, which places the top leadership in charge of decision-making on mineral production, said that the department will continue its existing operations “consistent with all legal obligations and policy goals to uphold trust and treaty responsibility to tribal nations.”
That line apparently failed to alleviate the concerns of the Ute Indian Tribe, which said in its letter that the order “violates the United States treaty and trust responsibilities to the Ute Indian Tribe and violates important principles of tribal sovereignty and self-determination.”
“Your order was also issued in violation our government-to-government relationship, Executive Order No. 13175 on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, and Interior’s own Policy on Consultation with Tribal Governments,” Mr. Duncan said. “The Order must be withdrawn or amended to comply with Federal law and policies.”
A Native American tribe in Utah says a Biden administration order block permits to drill for oil and gas on federal lands is a "direct attack" on its economy.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
We touched on the concerns of folks in New Mexico over Joe Biden’s 60-day moratorium on new oil and natural gas leases and drilling permits.
But it’s a huge problem now and would devastate the state if that were made permanent, according to leaders in New Mexico. Not to mention if Biden then forbids fracking on public lands.
Half of New Mexico’s production is on federal lands. It provides over 100,000 related jobs and it’s what provides money for education and other government programs. It will crush the state’s economy which is already struggling, according to Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway.
On Friday, an oil-producing Native American tribe in Utah asked the U.S. Interior Department for an exemption from the recent temporary suspension of oil and gas leasing and permitting on federal and tribal lands. As they wrote, the move is a “direct attack” on their economy and sovereignty.
The move hits everyone’s economy and sovereignty. Native Americans are suffering from the strain of the freeze on oil and gas production as are so many other Americans.
Uncle Joe, in his wisdom, signed an Executive Action to freeze oil and gas leasing to save the climate. Not only doesn’t it do that, but it also bankrupts whole states and Native Americans.
Utah tribe blasts Biden s drilling freeze on federal lands as direct attack on sovereignty Ute Indian Tribe seeks exemption for tribal lands from 60-day suspension Follow Us
Question of the Day By Valerie Richardson - The Washington Times - Friday, January 22, 2021
A Utah tribe blasted the Biden administration’s Wednesday order freezing agency approvals for oil, gas and coal permitting on federal lands, including tribal lands, calling it a “direct attack” on Native American sovereignty and self-determination.
The Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, which has run an oil-and-gas operation on its 4.5 million-acre reservation for more than 70 years, requested Thursday an exemption for tribal lands from the Interior Department order that halts agencies from issuing permits and leases on mineral production for 60 days.