Energy development revenues in Indian Country are once again on the rise, topping $1 billion for the first time in four years.
According to data released by the
Department of the Interior on Thursday, tribes and individual Indians received disbursements of $1.02 billion in fiscal year 2018. That represents a 51 percent increase from the $675.8 million seen in fiscal year 2017.
The disbursements were also much stronger than the $560.4 million that went to Indian Country in fiscal year 2016 and the $852.7 million in 2015. While they weren't as high as the $1.14 billion seen in 2014 -- which remains an all-time record -- the new figures show that the market is bouncing back.
“President Trump’s energy dominance strategy is paying off and local communities across America are the beneficiaries,”
Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said in a
press release. “Trump Administration policies like reforming and reducing regulatory burdens and broadening access to the nation’s oil, gas and coal resources, have made America the largest oil and gas producer in the world.
Overall, energy development on public and Indian lands resulted in disbursements of $8.93 billion across the nation. That's a $1.82 billion increase from the prior year.
"This critical source of funding will be used for educational and infrastructure improvements and land and water conservation projects, and to create good-paying American jobs," Zinke said.
The department said a rise in oil prices, as well as demand for energy resources, contributed to the increase in disbursements. Detailed information can be found on
revenuedata.doi.gov for states and territories.
Data for Indian Country is not available on the site though it's possible in some states, like
Montana and
North Dakota, to link certain production revenue to specific reservations.
According to the department, the Indian Country revenues went to 32 tribal governments and nearly 30,000 individual Indian owners. Some tribes receive their disbursements directly from the federal government while others have their shares placed in trust fund accounts, which are overseen by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs and the
Office of Special Trustee for American Indians.
The individual Indian disbursements are typically placed in trust fund accounts.
Indian Country Disbursements
Fiscal Year 2018 - $1,022,539,457.29
Fiscal Year 2017 - $675,788,643.34
Fiscal Year 2016 - $560,4161,55.15
Fiscal Year 2015 - $852,729,350.94
Fiscal Year 2014 - $1,146,119,618.68
Fiscal Year 2013 - $932,956,397.2
Fiscal Year 2012 - $717,556,925.1
Fiscal Year 2011 - $538,344,246.9
Source:
Disbursements data by state, county, and type, Office of Natural Resources Revenue, U.S. Department of the Interior
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