§3503 — Title 25 Indians | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary can give Indian tribes yearly grants. Tribes can use the money to make an energy resource inventory or to develop energy on Indian land; to pay for feasibility studies or other reports needed for energy projects; to make and enforce tribal energy laws and to build technical systems to protect the environment (this use is not available to Alaska tribes except the Metlakatla Indian Community); Native Corporations can use grants to make corporate policies and environmental technical systems; and tribes can use grants to train workers who develop energy or protect the environment. If a tribe or a tribal energy organization asks, the Secretary must, as much as possible and when money is available, make scientific and technical information and expert help available for regulating, developing, and managing the tribe’s energy on Indian land. The Secretary can do this with federal staff or by giving funds so the tribe can hire outside experts.

Title 25, §3503

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary may provide to Indian tribes, on an annual basis, grants for use in accordance with subsection (b).

(b)Funds from a grant provided under this section may be used—

(1)(A)by an Indian tribe for the development of a tribal energy resource inventory or tribal energy resource on Indian land;

(B)by an Indian tribe for the development of a feasibility study or other report necessary to the development of energy resources on Indian land;

(C)by an Indian tribe (other than an Indian Tribe in the State of Alaska, except the Metlakatla Indian Community) for—

(i)the development and enforcement of tribal laws (including regulations) relating to tribal energy resource development; and

(ii)the development of technical infrastructure to protect the environment under applicable law; or

(D)by a Native Corporation for the development and implementation of corporate policies and the development of technical infrastructure to protect the environment under applicable law; and

(2)by an Indian tribe for the training of employees that—

(A)are engaged in the development of energy resources on Indian land; or

(B)are responsible for protecting the environment.

(c)(1)In carrying out the obligations of the United States under this chapter, the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable and to the extent of available resources, that on the request of an Indian tribe or a tribal energy development organization, the Indian tribe or tribal energy development organization shall have available scientific and technical information and expertise, for use in the regulation, development, and management of energy resources of the Indian tribe on Indian land.

(2)The Secretary may carry out paragraph (1)—

(A)directly, through the use of Federal officials; or

(B)indirectly, by providing financial assistance to an Indian tribe or tribal energy development organization to secure independent assistance.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3503, Pub. L. 102–486, title XXVI, § 2603, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3114; Pub. L. 105–388, § 10, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3484, related to promotion of energy resource development and energy vertical integration on Indian reservations, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 109–58.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115–325, § 102(1), substituted “on the request of an Indian tribe or a tribal energy development organization, the Indian tribe or tribal energy development organization” for “on the request of an Indian tribe, the Indian tribe”. Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 115–325, § 102(2), inserted “or tribal energy development organization” after “Indian tribe”.

§3503 Indian tribal energy resource regulation