$ORFG I read through the FOUR CORNERS Tribal Summ

$ORFG

I read through the FOUR CORNERS Tribal Summit Summary, and would like to quote a few things that might possibly relate to ORFG - here is the link to the Summary:
http://www.nmccap.org/wp-content/uploads/2013...ceConf.pdf

FOUR CORNERS TRIBAL SUMMIT / DULCE, NM / NOVEMBER 18

-

19, 2013

Executive Summary

Twenty percent of Americas fossil fuel resources are on Indian lands. Tribes are interested parties.

“:..The most important revenue source is oil and gas…” ( page 6)

Many of the attendees stated they wanted to learn more about the energy processes, while others wanted to

know more about hydraulic fracturing and other specific energy issues that are on the horizon for the San Juan

Basin and outlying areas. ( page 7 )

(page 13)

With specific attention to the Tribe’s energy opportunities &

challenges in relation to federal agencies and the trust responsibility.

The Jicarilla Apache Nation, Navajo Nation, Southern Ute, Northern Ute, and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribes

all divided into groups of their specific Tribal peers and summarized each of their own Tribe’s specific

challenges and opportunities.

Northern Ute Indian Tribe

Opportunities

Northern Utes could have more drilled wells which could equal to more revenue

The more consultation with sister agencies the more development Tribe could have

Mid Steam development

Shared royalty revenue from fee property

Challenges

Lack of Government Agency funding for B.I.A. Minerals and Mining staffing “NEPA”

Restrictions of development because of Endangered species and wildlife

Developing more wells

Consistent Federal regulations from state to state

Cooperation and Communication

Eager qualified personnel

Timeline for review from B.L.M on drainage and diligence (page 13)

-(page 18)

Federal Panel: BIA, BLM, DOI

–

This facilitated workshop is designed to

identify areas of tangible and measurable improvements to expediting the Tribal permitting

process.

Roger Fragua asked a panelist of representatives (pictured below) from the attending Federal Organizations

including BIA and BLM to volunteer to take the stage to field questions from the attendees involving issues

they have regarding these agencies and their practices in the spirit of helping streamline some of the processes

and procedures, especially the application for drilling permits (APD).

A largely recognized problem many of the Tribes

have when it comes to energy development is the

APD process (application for permit to drill). The

Northern Utes stated they have the longest current

wait times for these applications with a one to two

year process, in contrast Jicarilla Apache Nation

stated they’ve had a general turnaround of about 90

days in most cases.

The panel agreed that the process is tedious and

often times not in the hands of any one of the local

or regional offices and the bottleneck comes from

above their offices. They also stated that the most

important thing a Tribe can do is make sure that

they complete all the necessary paperwork and have everything signed off that they can before submitting

their APD’s.

A strong understanding and agreement that the APD process needs to be more standard and in most cases

quicker was had by all.

As part of the discussion, the APD process was outlined to understand the procedures more clearly in order to

discuss how it could be made more efficient.

“One of the most important aspects of the Tribal Energy Summit is to provide access

to Federal officials who can provide answers to questions many members of the Tribes

have. This opens up a channel of learning from the Tribal leadership to the Federal

Government.”

-

Roger Fragua (page 18)

(pages 21-23 describes applying for permits)

prof