Stephen Manydeeds and Jack Stevens: The Emerging Plan to Slow or Stop Energy and Mineral Development in Indian Country

Indigene Economics Group has learned that there is a proposal to realign the Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) under the Indian Energy Service Center (IESC).

The same person who reneged on her promise to tribes not to reduce the size of DEMD’s workforce by laying off or losing over 50 of DEMD’s 65 contractors and six of its 13 federal employees wants to complete the task of making DEMD irrelevant by burying it under an office whose activities are totally unrelated.

This is a terrible idea that should be opposed by our readers.

The organizations have different missions, personnel, and cultures. DEMD promotes tribal energy and mineral resources and offers technical assistance to develop them, while the IESC organizes meetings between federal agencies. DEMD is made up of geoscientists anxious to bring projects online to meet market timelines, while the IESC consists of real estate specialists and others who know nothing about energy and minerals.

If allowed to proceed, this move will subordinate DEMD’s pro-development agenda to the IESC’s slower pace. DEMD personnel will have to seek permission to travel to assist tribes from IESC supervisors unfamiliar with industry timelines. BIA bureaucrats with no interest in development would call all the shots.

This would sabotage the Trump Administration’s plan to “drill, baby, drill" in Indian Country.

Perhaps that is the intent.