The Interior Department will hold a series of public hearings on Indian energy in January 2006.

A total of ten meetings have been scheduled across the country, according to a notice published today in the Federal Register. They start on January 9, 2006, and end on January 19, 2006.

The meetings are being called to address the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Section V of the act requires Interior to publish regulations regarding Tribal Energy Resource Agreements.

"The purpose of these agreements is to promote tribal oversight and management of energy and mineral resource development on tribal lands and further the goal of Indian self-determination," the notice states.

DOI will be taking public comment "on all areas of concern regarding the development of and regulation of TERAs." Comments can be presented at the meetings in January or sent to Interior directly.

The schedule is as follows;
January 9 - Sacramento, CA, Hilton Sacramento
January 9 - Houston, TX, Hilton Garden Inn (at airport)
January 10 - Tulsa, OK, Hilton Garden Inn (at airport)
January 10 - Billings, MT, Sheraton Billings
January 11 - Portland, OR, Doubletree Hotel
January 11 - Minneapolis, MN, Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America
January 12 - Denver, CO, Country Inn Suites (at airport)
January 13 - Albuquerque, NM, Albuquerque Marriott (on Louisiana)
January 13 - Las Vegas, NV, Renaissance Hotel
January 19 - Washington, DC, Sydney Yates Auditorium, DOI

Get the Notice:
Public Meetings on Development of Proposed Regulations Governing Tribal Energy Resource Agreements (Federal Register 12/9)

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

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