The Interior Department and the Energy Department held a joint hearing in Denver on Tuesday to discuss their study of rights-of-way on tribal lands.

The study was mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It was inserted at the request of the energy industry, whose representatives claim tribes are demanding outrageous sums for the use of their land for pipelines and transmission lines.

Tribal representatives said the industry has been painting them in an unfair light. They said they are only seeking what is fair, based on their status as governments.

Get the Story:
Indians, energy firms battle (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 4/19)
Rights vs. rights of way (The Denver Post 4/19)
Navajo want higher fees for land rights (UPI 4/16)

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