[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1211]]



             FT. BERTHOLD OIL AND GAS LEASING BILL, S. 2069

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 1998

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for S. 1069. 
I want to thank Chairman Young for his personal attention to this bill 
and for his assistance in bringing it to the floor for immediate 
consideration.
  The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation has been working for years to 
develop partnerships with the oil industry to explore the development 
of oil and gas resources on its lands. The Fort Berthold Reservation 
covers about 1 million acres of land in the middle of the proven oil-
rich Williston Basin. There has been active oil and gas exploration and 
development on the lands surrounding the reservation, but the tribe and 
its members have been able to participate in this activity in a very 
limited way. The tribal government is eager to explore oil and gas 
development on tribal lands and their prospects for receiving leasing 
activity are very good.
  Economic development should be a top priority in Indian country. 
Unfortunately, our Federal policies hinder the creation of new economic 
development opportunities on our Nation's Indian reservations. The bill 
before us aims to address a provision in Federal law that unnecessarily 
hampers economic development efforts on the Ft. Berthold reservation in 
North Dakota.
  Currently, Federal law requires that 100 percent of all tribal 
members with ownership in an allotment agree to the leasing of that 
allotment. Some of the allotted land tracts on the Ft. Berthold 
reservation are owned by up to 200 individuals. So if one of these 
owners will not sign the lease, the exploration cannot proceed. This 
requirement makes it virtually impossible for tribes and its members to 
pursue this type of economic development, even if a vast majority of 
allottees are supportive. The requirement shuts Indian oil development 
down cold.
  The legislation would allow a leasing agreement to move forward if 
more than 50 percent of those with an interest in specific allotted 
lands agree. It is narrowly drawn so as to only apply to the Fort 
Berthold Reservation. The legislation is strongly supported by the 
tribal council and the Interior Department.
  The economic implications of this legislation for the Ft. Berthold 
Reservation are enormous. This legislation will help Indian people on 
Fort Berthold achieve economic self-sufficiency. Additionally, I 
believe the legislation, which is so particularly important to the 
tribe at issue, may also serve as an example that we might follow later 
on. And so as we help the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, I believe 
that we may be doing a favor for all Indian reservations that might be 
interested in exploring mineral leasing activity in the future. Mr. 
Speaker, again, I thank all in the majority and minority for helping us 
bring this matter forward.

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