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Chairman Box details Southern Ute's energy investments
Leadership, beating bureaucratic obstacles key in gas development, says chairman
Herald Staff Writer
On the Net
Senate Indian Affairs Committee: http://indian.senate.gov/public/
Southern Ute Tribal Chairman Matthew Box was in Washington on April 22 to testify before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on the bill, called the Indian Energy Promotion and Parity Act.
“Our tribe has a national reputation as a leading energy tribe," Box told the committee, headed by U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.
A video of the hearing is posted on the committee's website. Box did not return a call Thursday for comment.
As the country strives to break its dependence on foreign oil, Indian reservations, home to 10 percent of the country's energy resources, increasingly are being eyed for their untapped resources, which include both fossil fuels and renewable sources such as wind and solar.
The draft bill aims to remove barriers to such development, including burdensome bureaucracy, and create new incentives like tax credits.
But outside the halls of power, some environmentalists expressed concern that it amounted to yet another exploitation of tribes and their land, which would bear the brunt of production-related pollution.
“Dorgan's bill does not provide for environmental equity and protection for tribes, nor for a truly sustainable American energy economy," environmental attorney Caitlin Sislin wrote last week in High Country News.
These concerns did not appear to be on the minds of lawmakers at Thursday's committee hearing, where the proposed legislation was being hailed as a powerful potential jobs engine for reservations, where unemployment runs rampant.
“Energy development is a huge opportunity for Indian country," U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., said at the hearing.
To that end, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., vice chairman of the committee, was eager to hear from Box how his tribe achieved its enviable status as a top energy producer whose worth has been valued in the billions.
“You've had phenomenal success, in my opinion," he said.
Box credited the wisdom of tribal leadership stretching back to the '70s, when the tribe ventured beyond merely leasing its land and into the business of producing and distributing gas.
He said that, at the time, tribal members as a whole had to sacrifice short-term returns to make long-term investments.
As revenues came in, they were funneled into an array of investments aimed at securing the tribe's financial future for generations to come.
“It's quite complex how the structure was developed," he said.
And the bureaucratic hurdles have been numerous.
“We have overcome many institutional obstacles to get where we are today," he said.
In addition to Box's comments, the tribe submitted written comments to be considered by the committee.
Referring to these, Dorgan said, “You have, it's safe to say, mixed feelings about this legislation."
Box said the tribe was concerned about a proposal to create “one-stop shops" for lease approvals, an approach Dorgan said had yielded positive results in his region.
But the tribe worried these satellite offices would be too deficient in expertise and divorced from the central power structure to be effective.
In its written comments, the tribe also expressed concern about a provision that could expand the instances when it would be required to conduct exhaustive environmental reviews - with the opportunity for public comment - under the National Environmental Policy Act.
“In our view, (the provision) is a step backwards, not a step forward," the comments state.
It is unclear when the legislation might be introduced. Dogan's office did not return a call for comment.
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Durango Herald Calendar of Events
Sunday, May 02, 2010
at 5:30:56 PM
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Notorious says...
duh, Chairman Box does NOT write the testimony presented to Congress. Even the "bottom feeders" or the "high schoolers" know that. There are issues that the present council refuses to act on simply because they do NOT have the experience or the courage to stand up for tribal members. Instead they hide behind codes, or are scared of setting precedents. But, the leaders are not afraid of setting precents when it comes to approving their own severance payments when their terms of office are up. This is something that previous tribal councils discussed, but when it came down to it, they put the people first, not themselves. The present administration is what the people are concerned with. More than an article about Congressional testimony in Washington and how good one sounds when doing it.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
at 4:17:10 PM
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Kimerz says...
"tm" - Personally, I agree with "Cowboy Logic". It was just last week that Tribal members and non-Tribal members alike were slamming the efforts of Matthew Box, with certain (ignorant) Tribal members are trying to oust him altogether. Just the fact that the Feds are trying to replicate the SUIT business ventures with the Indian Energy Promotion and Parity Act is proof that something is being done well, both under the past and the present leadership. All Tribal members should be required to watch the hearing. Perhaps they would have a better understanding of what it has taken to get the Tribe to where it is at, instead of jumping on an emotionally driven bandwagon filled with jealous high schoolers. The SUIT should be proud of how their Tribe was represented and spoken for by Matthew Box.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
at 3:17:15 PM
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Rez says...
The Southern Ute Tribe has been successful thanks to the past SUIT Chairmen and past Tribal Council.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
at 1:53:01 PM
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bike paths... says...
The current tribal council and leadership has not earned the trust and respect of the community. Are the current leaders,and the management that they support, running tribal affairs and treating employees (native and non-native) in a respectful legal manner? People are outraged and voicing their opinions because they see the corruption of managers and HR at the tribe and would like to see it changed. Clean it up, and you will have the publics respect and admiration.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
at 11:09:32 AM
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Htr says...
Business to business is right. In addition in the great American nation we have first amendment rights freedom of speech. Maybe in the Tribal nation you are thin skinned a term used for those who cannot take criticism. If that's the case keep your affairs private, in house. Print your comments in your own nations newspaper. If you don't have one make one. If it reaches our American newspaper we have rights here in America. You have the freedom to not read it.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
at 10:35:55 AM
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Notorious says...
The energy work that has made the tribe what it is today was not done by Chairman Box or the present tribal council. The work began after the energy leases of the 1950s expired in the 70s and they were rewritten in order that the tribe was getting more for the resources being produced. In addition, many of the people submitting comments in this forum are unfamiliar with the historical information regarding energy matters or politics on the SUR. Many of the tribal members are concerned that the great work by past leaders who had experience in the area of Realty, land and energy issues are no longer represented on the tribal council. It is up to the tribal membership to make these decisions as we know more about our leaders and their experience or lack of experience. However, this is a free country for anyone to voice their opinions whether or not they have the knowledge about our tribe, like we do.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
at 10:00:48 AM
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CowboyLogic says...
tm.....Actually I can have an opinion and pass personal judgement about whomever I want, regardless of how much or little I really know. That is kinda what having an opinion means. As for saying something nice about the Utes, I am pretty sure I did, Mr. Box is a Ute. If you are in fact a member and I have offended you then.... you should stick to reading the Drum.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
at 9:39:58 AM
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tm says...
Cowboy Logic,
Why are you stirring the pot again? There is no negativity in this article. If you don't have anything nice to say about Southern Utes, you should keep your comments to yourself. This is TRIBAL BUSINESS!! If you aren't a member you have no right to pass judgment on the the TRIBE OR IT'S MEMBERSHIP! Stop the drama already.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
at 8:42:40 AM
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CowboyLogic says...
I thought that Matt Box was a bad leader and running the tribe and its assets into the ground.... What is a horrible guy like that doing speaking in front of a Senate Committee? Could it be that the bottom feeders that held the "lets throw Matt Box under a bus while he is not here to defend himself" meeting are simply trying to jump on the coat tails of a guy who has done a good job considering the high school B.S. (aka...institutional obstacles) that he has had to deal with on a regular basis. I would give Matt Box a job in my company any day, as for the rest of them... I wouldn't even touch the brakes.