TRIBAL ENERGY RESOURCE AGREEMENTS UNDER THE INDIAN TRIBAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND SELF DETERMINATION ACT

• Citation: 25 CFR Part 224
• Sections: 108

§ 224.10 What is the purpose of this part?

This part:

(a) Establishes procedures by which a Tribe, at its discretion, may enter into and manage leases, business agreements, and rights-of-way for purposes of energy resource development on Tribal land; and

(b) Describes the process for obtaining, implementing, and enforcing a Tribal energy resource agreement (TERA) that will allow a Tribe to enter into individual leases, business agreements, and rights-of-way without obtaining Secretarial approval.

§ 224.20 How will the Secretary interpret and implement this part and the Act?

(a) The Secretary will interpret and implement this part and the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act (the Act) in accordance with the self-determination and energy development provisions and policies in the Act.

(b) The Secretary will liberally construe this part and the Act for the benefit of Tribes to implement the Federal policy of self-determination. The Secretary will construe any ambiguities in this part or the Act in favor of the Tribe to implement a TERA as authorized by this part and the Act.

§ 224.30 What definitions apply to this part?

Act means the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act of 2005, as promulgated in Title V of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, 25 U.S.C. 3501-3504, and as amended by the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017, Public Law 115-325.

Application means the application submitted for a TERA under subpart B.

Business agreement means:

(1) Any permit, contract, joint venture, option, or other agreement that furthers any activity related to locating, producing, transporting, or marketing energy resources on Tribal land;

(2) Any amendment, supplement, or other modification to such an agreement; or

(3) Any other business agreement entered into or subject to administration under a TERA.

Days mean calendar days in computing any period prescribed or allowed by the Act and this part:

(1) Do not include the day of the event from which the period begins to run;

(2) Include the last day of the period, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday; and

(3) When the period prescribed or allowed is less than 11 days, exclude intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays from the computation.

Decision Deadline means the end of the 120-day period within which the Secretary will make a decision about a petition submitted by an interested party under subpart E. The Secretary may extend this deadline for up to 120 days.

Department means the Department of the Interior.

Designated Tribal Official means the official designated in a Tribe's pre-application consultation request, application, or agreement to assist in scheduling consultations or to receive communications from the Secretary to the Tribe regarding the status of a TERA or activities under a TERA.

Director means the Director of the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development or the Secretary's designee, authorized to act on behalf of the Secretary.

Energy Resources means both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, including, but not limited to, natural gas, oil, uranium, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and hydrologic resources.

Imminent jeopardy to a physical trust asset means an immediate threat of devaluation, degradation, damage, or loss of a physical trust asset, as determined by the Secretary, caused by the noncompliance of a Tribe or third party with a TERA or applicable Federal laws.

Interested party means a person or entity who has filed a petition with the Secretary under subpart E seeking review of a Tribe's compliance with a TERA and who meets the criteria in § 224.101.

Lease means a written agreement, or modification of a written agreement, between a Tribe and a tenant or lessee, whereby the tenant or lessee is granted a right to possession of Tribal land or energy mineral resources for purposes of energy resource development.

Petitioner means a person or entity who has filed a petition under subpart E with a Tribe or the Secretary seeking review of a Tribe's compliance under a TERA. A petitioner is not considered to be an interested party unless the petitioner meets the criteria in § 224.101.

Physical trust asset means a physical asset held in trust by the United States for a Tribe or individual Indian or by a Tribe or individual Indian subject to a restriction against alienation under the laws of the United States. “Physical trust asset” does not include:

(1) Any improvements (for example, wells or structures) to the assets held in trust or restricted status; or

(2) Monetary assets.

Public means one or more natural or legal persons, and their associations, organizations, or groups; or Federal, State, Tribal and local government agencies; or private industry and their associations, organizations, or groups.

Qualified Tribe means a Tribe with Tribal land that has—

(1) For a period of not less than 3 consecutive years ending on the date on which the Tribe submits the application, carried out a contract or compact relating to the management of tribal land or natural resources under title I or IV of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. ) without material audit exception (or without any material audit exceptions that were not corrected within the 3-year period); or

(2) Substantial experience in the administration, review, or evaluation of energy resource leases or agreements or has otherwise substantially participated in the administration, management, or development of energy resources located on the Tribal land of the Indian Tribe.

Right-of-way means an easement, right, or other authorization over Tribal lands, granted or subject to administration under a TERA, for a pipeline or electric transmission or distribution line that serves a facility located on Tribal land that is related to energy resource development.

Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary's designee.

TERA means Tribal energy resource agreement.

Tribal energy development organization or TEDO means:

(1) Any enterprise, partnership, consortium, corporation, or other type of business organization that is engaged in the development of energy resources and is wholly owned by a Tribe, including but not limited to an organization incorporated under section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act, 25 U.S.C. 5124 or section 3 of the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act, 49 Stat, 1967, chapter 831; and

(2) Any organization of two or more entities, at least one of which is a Tribe, that has the written consent of the governing bodies of all Tribes participating in the organization, to apply for a grant, loan, or other assistance under 25 U.S.C. 3502 or to enter into a lease or business agreement with, or acquire a right-of-way from, a Tribe under 25 U.S.C. 3504(a)(2)(A)(ii) or (b)(2)(b).

Tribal governing body means a Tribe's governing entity, such as Tribal council or Tribal business committee, as established under Tribal or Federal law and recognized by the Secretary.

Tribal land means any land or interests in land owned by a Tribe or Tribes, title to which is held in trust by the United States, or is subject to a restriction against alienation under the laws of the United States. For the purposes of this part, Tribal land includes land taken into trust or subject to restrictions on alienation under the laws of the United States after the effective date of the agreement.

Tribe means any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians, except a Native Corporation as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1602, as evidenced by inclusion of the Tribe on the list of recognized Tribes published by the Secretary under 25 U.S.C. 5131.

Violation or breach means any breach or other violation by another party of any provision in a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way under a TERA or any activity or occurrence under a lease business agreement or right-of-way that constitutes a violation of Federal or Tribal environmental law.

§ 224.40 How does the Act or a TERA affect the Secretary's trust responsibility?

(a) The Act (25 U.S.C. 3504(e)(6)) preserves the Secretary's trust responsibilities relating to mineral and other trust resources and requires the Secretary to act in good faith and in the best interest of Indian Tribes.

(b) Neither the Act nor this part absolves the Secretary of responsibilities to Indian Tribes under the trust relationship, treaties, statutes, regulations, Executive Orders, agreements or other Federal law.

(c) The Act and this part preserve the Secretary's trust responsibility to ensure that the rights and interests of an Indian Tribe are protected if:

(1) Another party to a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way executed under an approved TERA violates any term of the lease, business agreement, or right-of-way, or any applicable Federal law; or

(2) Any provision of a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way violates the TERA under which it was executed.

(d) The United States is not liable for losses to any party (including any Tribe) for any negotiated term of, or any loss resulting from, the negotiated terms of a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way the Tribe executes under a TERA.

§ 224.41 When does the Secretary require agreement of more than one Tribe to approve a TERA?

When Tribal land held for the benefit of more than one Tribe is contemplated for inclusion in a TERA, each appropriate Tribal governing body must request a pre-application consultation meeting, and submit a resolution or formal act of the Tribal governing body approving the submission of any application. Each appropriate Tribal governing body must also sign the TERA, if it is approved.

§ 224.42 How does the Paperwork Reduction Act affect these regulations?

The information collected from the public is cleared and covered by OMB Control Number 1076-0167. The sections of this rule which have information collections are §§ 224.53, 224.57(d), 224.61, 224.63, 224.64, 224.65, 224.68(d), 224.76, 224.83, 224.87, 224.109, 224.112, 224.120(a), 224.139(b), 224.156, and 224.173. Please note that a Federal Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

§ 224.50 What is the purpose of this subpart?

This subpart establishes procedures for:

(a) Pre-application and application consultations and process;

(b) Requirements for the content of applications;

(c) Submittal of completed applications; and

(d) Secretarial review and processing of applications.

§ 224.51 What is a pre-application consultation between a Tribe and the Secretary?

(a) A Tribe interested in entering into a TERA should request a pre-application consultation by writing to the Secretary. The request should include the name and contact information for the Designated Tribal Official who will coordinate scheduling with the Secretary.

(b) Upon receiving a pre-application consultation request, the Secretary will contact the Designated Tribal Official within 30 days to schedule a pre-application consultation meeting. The Secretary may also initiate pre-application discussions with the Tribal governing body.

(c) At the pre-application consultation meeting, the Tribe and the Secretary may discuss any of the matters related to a future application including, but not limited to:

(1) The application process;

(2) The potential scope of the Tribe's future application, including any regulatory or administrative activities that the Tribe anticipates exercising;

(3) The required content of an application for a TERA;

(4) The energy resource the Tribe anticipates developing;

(5) The Tribe's capacity to manage and regulate the energy resource development the Tribe identifies;

(6) Potential opportunities for funding capacity-building and other activities related to the energy resource the Tribe anticipates developing under a TERA; and

(7) Any other matters applicable to this part, the Act, and the Tribe.

§ 224.52 What may a Tribe include in a TERA?

A TERA under this part:

(a) May include development of all or part of a Tribe's energy resources;

(b) Must specify the type of energy resource included;

(c) May include assumption by the Tribe of certain activities normally carried out by the Department, except for inherently Federal functions; and

(d) Must specify the services or resources related to the specific activity related to energy resource development that the Tribe proposes to assume from the Department.

§ 224.53 What must an application for a TERA contain?

(a) An application for a TERA must contain all of the following:

(1) A proposed TERA between the Tribe and the Secretary, signed by the authorized representative of the Tribe, that contains the provisions required by § 224.63;

(2) A map, legal description, and general description of the Tribal land that the Tribe intends to include in the TERA;

(3) A statement that meets the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section;

(4) Documentation that the Tribe meets the definition of “qualified Tribe” in § 224.30;

(5) A statement of the scope of administrative activities that the Tribe intends to conduct and an explanation of how that meets the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section;

(6) A copy of the resolution or formal action of the Tribal governing body or bodies under § 224.41 that approves submission of an application for a TERA; and

(7) A designation of, and contact information for, the Designated Tribal Official who will receive notifications from the Secretary or the Secretary regarding the status of the TERA application.

(b) The statement required by paragraph (a)(3) of this section must:

(1) If applicable, state that the Tribe retains the option of entering into energy-related leases or agreements under laws other than the Act for any Tribal land that the TERA includes; and

(2) State one of the following:

(i) The Tribe intends the TERA to include all Tribal land, energy resources, and categories of energy-related leases, business agreements, and rights-of-way; or

(ii) The Tribe intends the TERA to include only certain Tribal land, energy resources, or categories of energy-related leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way in the TERA. In this case, the statement must specify and describe the Tribal land, energy resources, or categories of energy-related leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way that the Tribe intends to include in the TERA.

(3) State the Tribe's intent to amend or modify leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way that exist when a TERA is approved if those activities are directly related to the activities authorized by the TERA. The Tribe's ability to amend or modify such leases, business agreements or rights-of-way requires the agreement of the other parties to the lease, business agreement or rights-of-way, which must be stated in the TERA.

(c) The statement required by paragraph (a)(5) of this section must describe the amount of administrative activities related to the permitting, approval, and monitoring of activities, as applicable, that the Tribe proposes to undertake under any lease, business agreement, or right-of-way the Tribe executes under an approved TERA.

(1) If the Tribe proposes to regulate activities, the Tribe must state its intent and describe the scope of the Tribe's plan for such administration and management.

(2) The Tribe's intended scope of administrative responsibilities may not include the responsibilities of the Federal Government under the Endangered Species Act or other inherently Federal functions.

(3) If the Tribe intends to regulate activities, it should also describe the regulatory activities it desires to assume in the geographical area identified in § 224.53(c)(2) with respect to leases, business agreements, and rights-of-way that exist when a TERA is approved.

§ 224.54 How must a Tribe submit an application?

A Tribe must submit an application and all supporting documents in a searchable portable document format (PDF) to [email protected].

§ 224.55 Is information a Tribe submits throughout the TERA process under this part subject to disclosure to third parties?

The requirements of this section implement the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) (FOIA) and 43 CFR part 2:

(a) Information a Tribe submits to the Department throughout the TERA process under this part may be subject to disclosure to third parties under FOIA unless a FOIA exemption or exception applies or other provisions of law protect the information.

(b) A Tribe may, but is not required to, designate information it submits as confidential commercially or financially sensitive information, as applicable, in any submissions it makes throughout the TERA process, including, but not limited to:

(1) Pre-application information;

(2) Application information

(3) A final proposed TERA;

(4) Any amendments to a TERA; and

(5) Leases, business agreements, and grants of right-of-way executed under an approved TERA.

(c) Upon receipt of a FOIA request for records that contain commercial or financial information a Tribe has submitted under the TERA process, as required by 43 CFR part 2 the Department will provide the Tribe, as submitter, with written notice of the FOIA request if:

(1) The Tribe has designated the information as confidential commercial or financial information; or

(2) The Department has reason to believe that the information requested may be protected under FOIA Exemption 4 (trade secrets and commercial or financial information which is obtained from a person and is privileged or confidential).

(d) The notice to the Tribe will:

(1) Include a copy of the FOIA request;

(2) Describe the information requested or include copies of the pertinent records;

(3) Advise the Tribe of procedures for objecting to the release of the requested information and specify the time limit for the Tribe's response;

(4) Give the Tribe no less than ten (10) working days from the Department's notice to object to the release and explain the basis for objection, if any;

(5) Advise the Tribe that:

(i) Information contained in the Tribe's objections may be subject to disclosure under FOIA if the Department receives a FOIA request for it; and

(ii) If the Tribe's objections contain commercial or financial information and a requestor asks for the objections under FOIA, the same notification procedures as above will apply;

(6) Advise the Tribe that it is the Department, rather than the Tribe, that is responsible for deciding whether the information will be released or withheld;

(7) If the Tribe designated the information as commercial or financial information 10 or more years before the FOIA request, the Department will request the Tribe's views on whether the Tribe still considers the information to be confidential;

(e) If the Tribe has any objection to disclosure of the information, the Tribe must submit a detailed written statement to the Department including the following:

(1) The justification for withholding any portion of the information under any exemption of FOIA, and if the applicable exemption is Exemption 4, the Tribe must submit a specific and detailed discussion of:

(i) Whether the Federal government required the information to be submitted, and, if so, how substantial competitive harm or other business harm would likely result from release of the information; or

(ii) Whether the Tribe provided the information voluntarily and, if so, how the information fits into a category of information that the Tribe customarily does not release to the public;

(2) A certification that the information is confidential, has not been disclosed to the public by the Tribe, and is essentially non-public because it is not routinely available to the public from other sources;

(3) If not already provided, a Tribal contact telephone and fax number so that the Department can communicate with the Tribe about the FOIA request;

(f) The Department will review and consider all objections to release that are received within the time limits specified in the notice to the Tribe, and if the Tribe does not respond within the time limits specified in the notice, the Department will presume that the Tribe has no objection to release of the information;

(g) If the Department decides to release the information over the objection of the Tribe, it will notify the Tribe in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, and will include copies of the records the Department intends to release and the reasons for deciding to release them. The notice will also inform the Tribe that it intends to release the records within 10 working days after the Tribe's receipt of the notice.

§ 224.56 What is the effect of the Secretary's receipt of a qualified Tribe's complete application?

The Secretary's receipt of a qualified Tribe's complete application begins a 270-day statutorily mandated period during which the Secretary must approve or disapprove a proposed TERA. The TERA takes effect upon the 271st day after the Secretary's receipt of a complete application from a qualified Tribe, unless the Secretary approves the TERA to take effect on an earlier date, or the Secretary disapproves the application before that date.

§ 224.57 What must the Secretary do upon receipt of an application?

(a) Upon receiving an application for a TERA, the Secretary must:

(1) Promptly notify the Designated Tribal Official in writing that the Secretary has received the application and the date it was received;

(2) Within 30 days from the date of receiving the application, determine whether the application is complete; and

(3) Take the following actions:

If the Secretary determines that . . .

Then the Secretary must . . .

(i) The application is complete

(A) Issue a written notice and a request for an application consultation meeting to the Designated Tribal Official; and (B) Identify in the written notice any financial assistance available from the Secretary to assist in implementing the TERA, including environmental review of individual projects; and (C) If appropriate, notify other Departmental bureaus and offices of receiving the application and provide copies.

(ii) The application is not complete

(A) Issue a written notice to the Designated Tribal Official that the application is not complete; (B) Specify the additional information the Tribe is required to submit to make the application complete; and (C) Start the 270-day review period only when the Secretary receives a complete application.

(b) Unless the Secretary notifies the Designated Tribal Official during the 30-day review period that the application is not complete, the application is presumed to be complete and the 270-day review period under 25 U.S.C. 3504(e)(2)(A) of the Act will begin as of the date that the application was received.

§ 224.58 What is an application consultation meeting?

An application consultation meeting is a meeting held at the Tribe's headquarters between the Secretary and the Tribal governing body and any other representatives that the Tribe may designate to discuss the TERA application. The Secretary will designate representatives of appropriate Departmental offices or bureaus to attend the application consultation meeting, as necessary. The Tribe may record the meeting. The meeting will:

(a) Be held at the earliest practicable time after the Secretary receives a Tribe's complete application;

(b) Include a thorough discussion of the Tribe's application;

(c) Identify the specific services consistent with the Secretary's ongoing trust responsibility and available resources that the Department would provide to the Tribe upon the approval of a TERA;

(d) Include a discussion of the relationship of the Tribe to other Federal agencies with responsibilities for implementing or ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way and applicable Federal laws;

(e) Include a discussion of the relationship of the Tribe to its members, to State and local governments, and to non-Indians who may be affected by approval of a TERA or by leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way that the Tribe may enter into or grant under an approved TERA;

(f) Include a discussion of the Tribal administrative, financial, technical, and managerial capacities needed to carry out the Tribe's obligations under a TERA; and

(g) Include a discussion of the form of the TERA and the timing and relative responsibilities of the parties for its preparation.

§ 224.59 How will the Secretary use the results of the application consultation meeting?

The Secretary will use the information gathered during the application consultation meeting in conjunction with information provided through §§ 224.53 and 224.63 to determine whether to recommend any revisions to the proposed TERA.

§ 224.60 What will the Secretary provide to the Tribe after the application consultation meeting?

Within 30 days following the meeting with the Tribe, the Secretary will provide to the Designated Tribal Official a written report on the application consultation meeting. The report must include the Secretary's recommendations, if any, for revising the proposed TERA that was submitted as part of the Tribe's application.

§ 224.61 What will the Tribe provide to the Secretary after receipt of the Secretary's report on the application consultation meeting?

If the Tribe wishes to proceed with the application, the Tribe must submit a final proposed TERA to the Secretary within 45 days following the date of the Tribe's receipt of the Secretary's report on the application consultation meeting.

§ 224.62 May a final proposed TERA differ from the original proposed TERA?

The final proposed TERA may or may not contain provisions that differ from the original proposed TERA submitted with the application. In either case, the 270-day review period will begin to run on the date the original complete application was received (under § 224.57).

§ 224.63 What provisions must a TERA contain?

A TERA must contain all the elements required by this section.

(a) A provision for the Secretary's periodic review and evaluation of the Tribe's performance under a TERA.

(b) A provision that recognizes the authority of the Secretary, upon a finding of imminent jeopardy to a physical trust asset, to take actions the Secretary determines to be necessary to protect the asset, including reassumption under subparts F and G of this part.

(c) A provision under which the Tribe establishes and ensures compliance with an environmental review process for leases, business agreements, and rights-of-way which, at a minimum:

(1) Informs the public and provides opportunity for public comment on the environmental impacts of the approval of the lease, business agreement or right-of-way;

(2) Provides for Tribal responses to relevant and substantive public comments before Tribal approval of the lease, business agreement or right-of-way;

(3) Provides for sufficient Tribal administrative support and technical capability to carry out the environmental review process; and

(4) Develops adequate Tribal oversight of energy resource development activities under any lease, business agreement or right-of-way under a TERA that any other party conducts to determine whether the activities comply with the TERA and applicable Federal and Tribal environmental laws.

(d) Provisions that require, with respect to any lease, business agreement, or right-of-way approved under a TERA, all of the following:

(1) Express limitations on duration that meet the restrictions of the Act and this Part under § 224.86;

(2) Mechanisms for amendment, transfer, and renewal;

(3) Mechanisms for obtaining, reporting and evaluating the economic return to the Tribe;

(4) Assurances of the Tribe's compliance with all applicable environmental laws;

(5) Requirements that the lessee, operator, or right-of-way grantee will comply with all applicable environmental laws;

(6) Identification of Tribal representatives with the authority to approve a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way and the related energy development activities that would occur under a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way;

(7) Public notification that a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way has received final Tribal approval;

(8) A process for consultation with affected States regarding off-reservation impacts, if any, identified under paragraph (c) of this section;

(9) A description of remedies for breach;

(10) A statement that any provision that violates an express term or requirement of the TERA is null and void;

(11) A statement that if the Secretary determines that any provision that violates an express term or requirement of the TERA is material, the Secretary may suspend or rescind the lease, business agreement, or right-of-way, or take any action the Secretary determines to be in the best interest of the Tribe, including, with the consent of the parties, revising the nonconforming provisions so that they conform to the intent of the applicable portion of the TERA; and

(12) A statement that the lease, business agreement, or right-of-way subject to a TERA, unless otherwise provided, goes into effect when the Tribe delivers executed copies of the lease, business agreement, or right-of-way to the Secretary by first class mail return receipt requested or express delivery. The parties to a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way may agree in writing that any provision of their contract may have retroactive application.

(e) Citations to any applicable Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures that:

(1) Provide opportunity for the public to comment on and to participate in public hearings, if any, under paragraph (c)(2) of this section; and

(2) Provide remedies that petitioning parties must exhaust before filing a petition with the Secretary under subpart E of this part.

(f) Provisions that require a Tribe to provide the Secretary with citations to any Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures the Tribe adopts after the effective date of a TERA that establish, amend, or supplement Tribal remedies that petitioning parties must exhaust before filing a petition with the Secretary under subpart E of this part.

(g) Provisions that designate a person or entity, together with contact information, authorized by the Tribe to maintain and disseminate to requesting members of the public current copies of Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures that establish or describe Tribal remedies that petitioning parties must exhaust before instituting appeals under subpart E of this part.

(h) Identification of financial assistance, if any, that the Secretary has agreed to provide to the Tribe to assist in implementation of the TERA, including the Tribe's environmental review of individual energy development activities.

(i) Provisions that require a Tribe to notify the Secretary and the Secretary in writing, as soon as practicable after the Tribe receives notice, of a violation or breach as defined in this Part.

(j) Provisions that require the Tribe and the Tribe's financial experts to adhere to Government auditing standards and to applicable continuing professional education requirements.

(k) Provisions that require the Tribe to submit to the Secretary information and documentation of payments made directly to the Tribe, if any. These provisions enable the Secretary to discharge the trust responsibility of the United States to enforce the terms of, and protect the rights of the Tribe under, a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way. Required documentation must include documents evidencing proof of payment such as cancelled checks; cash receipt vouchers; copies of money orders or cashiers checks; or verification of electronic payments.

(l) Provisions that ensure the creation, maintenance and preservation of records related to leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way and performance of activities a Tribe assumed under a TERA sufficient to facilitate the Secretary's periodic review of the TERA. The Secretary will use these records as part of the periodic review and evaluation process under § 224.132. Approved Departmental records retention procedures under the Federal Records Act (44 U.S.C. Chapters 29, 31, and 33) provide a framework the Tribe may use to ensure that its records under a TERA adequately document essential transactions, furnish information necessary to protect its legal and financial rights, and enable the Secretary to discharge the trust responsibility if:

(1) Any other party violates the terms of any lease, business agreement, or right-of-way; or

(2) Any provision of a lease, business agreement or right-of-way violates the TERA.

(m) At the option of the Tribe, identify which functions, if any, the Tribe intends to conduct to authorize any operational or development activities pursuant to a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way approved by the Tribe.

§ 224.64 How may a Tribe assume management of development of different types of energy resources?

(a) In order for a Tribe to assume authority for approving leases, business agreements, and rights-of-way for the development of another energy resource that is not included in the TERA, a Tribe must submit to the Secretary:

(1) An amendment to the TERA that specifies and describes the additional Tribal land, energy resources, or categories of energy-related leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way that the Tribe intends to include in the TERA; and

(2) A copy of the resolution or formal action of the Tribal governing body, or Tribal governing bodies if the land is held for the benefit of more than one Tribe, that approves submission of the TERA amendment.

(b) Submission of the documents in paragraph (a) of this section will trigger the public notice and opportunity for comment consistent with § 224.67.

(c) The Secretary will process the amendment in accordance with §§ 224.67 through 224.78.

(d) Each Tribal governing body that is party to the TERA must sign the TERA amendment upon approval.

§ 224.65 How may a Tribe assume additional activities under a TERA?

A Tribe may assume additional activities related to the development of the same type of energy resource included in a TERA by negotiating with the Secretary an amendment to the existing TERA to include the additional activities.

§ 224.66 How may a Tribe reduce the scope of the TERA?

A Tribe may reduce the scope of the TERA by negotiating with the Secretary an amendment to the existing TERA to eliminate an activity assumed under the TERA or a type of energy resource development managed under the TERA. Any such reduction in scope must include the return of all relevant Departmental resources transferred under the TERA and any relevant records and documents.

§ 224.67 What must the Secretary do upon the Secretary's receipt of a final proposed TERA?

(a) Within 10 days of the Secretary's receipt of a final proposed TERA, the Secretary must submit a notice for publication in the Federal Register advising the public:

(1) That the Secretary is considering a final proposed TERA for approval or disapproval: and

(2) Of any National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review the Secretary is conducting.

(b) The Federal Register notice will:

(1) Contain information advising the public how to request and receive copies of or participate in any NEPA reviews, as prescribed in subpart C of this part, related to approval of the final proposed TERA; and

(2) Contain information advising the public how to comment on a final proposed TERA.

§ 224.68 How will the Secretary use public comments?

(a) The Secretary will review and consider public comments in deciding to approve or disapprove the final proposed TERA; and

(b) The Secretary will provide copies of the comments to the Designated Tribal Official;

(c) Upon mutual agreement between the Tribe and the Secretary, the Tribe may make changes in the final proposed TERA based on the comments received; and

(d) If the Tribe revises the final proposed TERA based on public comments, the Tribal governing body must approve the changes, the authorized representative of the Tribe must sign the final proposed TERA as revised, and the Tribe must send the revised final proposed TERA to the Secretary.

§ 224.70 Will the Secretary review a proposed TERA under the National Environmental Policy Act?

Yes, the Secretary will conduct a review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of the potential impacts on the quality of the human environment that might arise from approving a final proposed TERA. The scope of the Secretary's evaluation will be limited to the scope of the TERA. The public comment period, when required, under the NEPA review will occur concurrently with the public comment period for a TERA under § 224.67.

§ 224.71 What standards will the Secretary use to decide to approve a final proposed TERA?

The Secretary must approve a final proposed TERA unless:

(a) The Tribe does not meet the definition of a “qualified Tribe” in § 224.30;

(b) A provision of the TERA violates applicable Federal law (including regulations) or a treaty applicable to the Tribe; or

(c) The TERA fails to include the provisions required by § 224.63.

§ 224.74 When must the Secretary approve or disapprove a final proposed TERA?

The Secretary must approve or disapprove a final proposed TERA within 270 days of the Secretary's receipt of a complete application for a TERA. If the Secretary fails to approve or disapprove a final proposed TERA within 270 days, the TERA takes effect on the 271st day after the Secretary's receipt of a complete application from a qualified Tribe.

§ 224.75 What must the Secretary do upon approval or disapproval of a final proposed TERA?

Within 10 days of the Secretary's approval or disapproval of a final proposed TERA, the Secretary must notify the Tribal governing body in writing and take the following actions:

If the Secretary's decision is . . .

Then the Secretary will . . .

(a) To approve the final proposed TERA

(1) Sign the TERA making it effective on the date of signature, and return the signed TERA to the Tribal governing body; and (2) Maintain a copy of the TERA and any subsequent amendments or supplements to the TERA.

(b) To disapprove the final proposed TERA

Send the Tribe a notice of disapproval that must include: (1) A detailed written explanation of each reason for the disapproval; (2) The changes or other actions required to address each reason for the Secretary's disapproval; (3) An opportunity to revise and resubmit the TERA: and (4) A statement that the decision is a final agency action and is subject to judicial review.

§ 224.76 Upon notification of disapproval, may a Tribe re-submit a revised final proposed TERA?

Yes, within 45 days of receiving the notice of disapproval, or a later date as the Secretary and the Tribe agree to in writing, the Tribe may re-submit a revised final proposed TERA, approved by the Tribal governing body and signed by the Tribe's authorized representative, to the Secretary that addresses the Secretary's concerns. The Secretary must approve or disapprove the revised final proposed TERA within 90 days of the Secretary's receipt of the revised final proposed TERA. If the Secretary does not approve or disapprove the revised proposed TERA within that time, it will take effect on the 91st day. Within 10 days of the Secretary's approval or disapproval of a revised final proposed TERA, the Secretary must notify the Tribal governing body in writing and take the following actions:

If the Secretary's decision is . . .

Then the Secretary will . . .

(a) To approve the revised final proposed TERA

(1) Sign the TERA making it effective on the date of signature, and return the signed TERA to the Tribal governing body; and (2) Maintain a copy of the TERA and any subsequent amendments or supplements to the TERA.

(b) To disapprove the revised final proposed TERA

Send the Tribe a notice of disapproval that must include: (1) The reasons for the disapproval; and (2) A statement that the decision is a final agency action and is subject to judicial review.

§ 224.77 Who may appeal the Secretary's decision on a final proposed TERA or a revised final proposed TERA?

Only a Tribe applying for a TERA may appeal the Secretary's decision to disapprove a final proposed TERA or a revised final proposed TERA in accordance with the appeal procedures contained in subpart I of this part. No other person or entity may appeal the Secretary's decision. The Secretary's decision to approve a final proposed TERA or a revised final proposed TERA is a final agency action.

§ 224.78 How long will a TERA remain in effect?

A TERA that takes effect under this part remains in effect to the extent any provision of the TERA is consistent with applicable Federal law (including regulations), unless and until either:

(a) The Secretary reassumes all activities included within a TERA without the consent of the Tribe under Subpart G; or

(b) The Tribe rescinds a TERA under Subpart H.

§ 224.79 Will the Secretary make non-expended amounts available to the Tribe?

Upon written request of a Tribe for whom an approved TERA is in effect, the Secretary will provide to the Tribe those amounts that the Secretary would otherwise have expended to carry out any program, function, service, or activity (or portion thereof) that the Secretary does not expend as a result of the Tribe carrying out the activities under a TERA. The Secretary will provide the Tribe with a full accounting of the amounts as calculated based on the specific terms of the TERA, the scope of the contracted functions, and applicable circumstances.

§ 224.80 Under what authority will a Tribe perform activities for energy resource development?

A Tribe will perform activities for energy resource development activities undertaken under a TERA under the Federal authorities provided in the approved TERA. Notwithstanding anything in this part or an approved TERA to the contrary, a Tribe will retain all sovereign and other powers it otherwise possesses.

§ 224.81 What laws are applicable to activities?

Federal and Tribal laws apply to activities under a TERA, unless otherwise specified in the TERA.

§ 224.82 What activities will the Department continue to perform after approval of a TERA?

After approval of a TERA, the Department will provide a Tribe:

(a) All activities that the Department performs unless the Tribe has assumed such activities under the TERA;

(b) Access to title status information and support services needed by a Tribe in the course of evaluating proposals for leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way;

(c) Coordination between the Tribe and the Department for ongoing maintenance of accurate real property records;

(d) Access to technical support services within the Department to assist the Tribe in evaluating the physical, economic, financial, cultural, social, environmental, and legal consequences of approving proposals for leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way under a TERA; and

(e) Assistance to ensure that third-party violations or breaches of the terms of leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way or applicable provisions of Federal law by third parties are handled appropriately.

§ 224.83 What must a Tribe do after executing a lease or business agreement, or granting a right-of-way?

Following the execution of a lease, business agreement, or grant of right-of-way under a TERA, a Tribe must:

(a) Inform the public of approval of the lease, business agreement, or right-of-way under the authority granted in the TERA; and

(b) Send a copy of the executed lease, business agreement, or right-of-way, or amendments, to the Secretary within one business day of execution. The copy must be sent by certified mail return receipt requested or by overnight delivery.

§ 224.84 When may a Tribe grant a right-of-way?

A Tribe may grant a right-of-way under a TERA if the grant of right-of-way is over tribal land and the right-of-way serves:

(a) An electric production, generation, transmission, or distribution facility (including a facility that produces electricity from renewable energy resources) located on tribal land;

(b) A facility located on tribal land that processes or refines energy resources; or

(c) The purposes, or facilitates in carrying out the purposes, of any lease or agreement entered into for energy resources development on tribal land.

§ 224.85 When may a Tribe enter into a lease or business agreement?

A Tribe may enter into a lease or business agreement for the purpose of energy resource development for:

(a) Exploration for, extraction of, or other development of the Tribe's energy mineral resources on tribal land including, but not limited to, marketing or distribution;

(b) Construction or operation of an electric production, generation, transmission, or distribution facility (including a facility that produces electricity from renewable energy resources) located on tribal land;

(c) Construction or operation of a facility to process or refine energy resources, at least a portion of which have been developed on tribal land; or

(d) Pooling, unitization, or communitization of the energy mineral resources of the Indian tribe located on tribal land with any other energy mineral resource (including energy mineral resources owned by the Indian tribe or an individual Indian in fee, trust, or restricted status or by any other persons or entities) if the owner, or, if appropriate, lessee, of the resources has consented or consents to the pooling, unitization, or communitization of the other resources under any lease or agreement.

§ 224.86 Are there limits on the duration of leases, business agreements, and rights-of-way?

(a) The duration of leases, business agreements, and rights-of-way entered into under a TERA are limited as follows:

(1) For leases and business agreements, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, 30 years;

(2) For leases for production of oil resources and gas resources, or both, 10 years and as long after as oil or gas production continues in paying quantities; and

(3) For rights-of-way, 30 years.

(b) A lease or business agreement a Tribe enters into, or a right-of-way a Tribe grants may be renewed at the discretion of the Tribe as long as the TERA remains in effect and the approved activities have not been rescinded by the Tribe or suspended or reassumed by the Department.

§ 224.87 What are the obligations of a Tribe if it discovers a violation or breach?

As soon as practicable after discovering or receiving notice of a violation or breach of a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way of a Federal or Tribal environmental law resulting from an activity undertaken by a third party under a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way, the Tribe must provide written notice to the Secretary describing:

(a) The nature of the violation or breach in reasonable detail;

(b) The corrective action taken or planned by the Tribe; and

(c) The proposed period for the corrective action to be completed.

§ 224.88 What must the Secretary do after receiving notice of a violation or breach from the Tribe?

After receiving notice of a violation or breach from the Tribe, the Secretary will:

(a) Review the notice and conduct an investigation under § 224.135(b) including, as necessary:

(1) An on-site inspection; and

(2) A review of relevant records, including transactions and reports.

(b) If the Secretary determines, after the investigation, that a violation or breach is not causing or will not cause imminent jeopardy to a physical trust asset, the Secretary will review, for concurrence or disapproval, the corrective action to be taken or imposed by the Tribe and the proposed period for completion of the corrective action;

(c) If the Secretary determines, after the investigation, that a violation or breach is causing or will cause imminent jeopardy to a physical trust asset, the Secretary will proceed under the imminent jeopardy provisions of subpart F of this part.

§ 224.89 What procedures will the Secretary use to enforce leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way?

(a) The Secretary and a Tribe will consult with each other regarding enforcement of and Secretarial assistance needed to enforce leases, business agreements, or rights-of-way entered into under a TERA. When appropriate, the Secretary will:

(1) Use the notification and enforcement procedures established in 25 CFR parts 162, 211 and 225 to ensure compliance with leases and business agreements; and

(2) Use the notification and enforcement procedures of 25 CFR part 169 to ensure compliance with rights-of-way.

(b) All enforcement remedies established in 25 CFR parts 162, 211, 225, and 169 are available to the Secretary.

§ 224.100 May a person or entity ask the Secretary to review a Tribe's compliance with a TERA?

In accordance with this subpart, a person or entity that may be an interested party may submit to the Secretary a petition to review a Tribe's compliance with a TERA. However, before filing a petition with the Secretary, a person or entity that may be an interested party must first exhaust Tribal remedies, if a Tribe has provided for such remedies. If a Tribe has not provided for Tribal remedies, a person or entity that may be an interested party may file a petition directly with the Secretary.

§ 224.101 Who is an interested party?

For the purposes of this part, an interested party is a person or entity that the Secretary determines has demonstrated with substantial evidence that an interest of the person or entity has sustained, or will sustain, an adverse environmental impact as a result of a Tribe's failure to comply with a TERA.

§ 224.102 Must a Tribe establish a comment or hearing process for addressing environmental concerns?

Yes. The Act (25 U.S.C. 3504(e)(2)(C)(iii)(I), (II) and 25 U.S.C. 3504(e)(2)(B)(iii)(X)) and subpart B of this part require a Tribe to establish an environmental review process under a TERA that:

(a) Ensures that the public is notified about and has an opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of proposed Tribal action to be taken under a TERA;

(b) Requires that the Tribe respond to relevant and substantive comments about the environmental impacts of a proposed Tribal action before the Tribe approves a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way; and

(c) Provides for a process for consultation with any affected States regarding off-reservation environmental impacts, if any, resulting from approval of a lease, business agreement, or right-of-way.

§ 224.103 Must a Tribe establish other public participation processes?

No. Except for the environmental review process required by the Act and § 224.63(b)(1), a Tribe is not required to establish a process for public participation concerning non-environmental issues in a TERA or leases, business agreements or rights-of-way undertaken under a TERA. However, a Tribe may elect to establish procedures that permit the public to participate in public hearings or that expand the scope of matters about which the public may comment.

§ 224.104 Must a Tribe enact Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures permitting a person or entity to allege that a Tribe is not complying with a TERA?

No. A Tribe is not required, but may elect, to enact Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures permitting a person or entity that may be an interested party to allege that a Tribe is not complying with its TERA.

§ 224.105 How may a person or entity obtain copies of Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures that would permit an allegation of noncompliance with a TERA?

(a) A person or entity that may be an interested party may obtain copies of Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures that establish Tribal remedies that permit a person or entity to allege that the Tribe is not complying with its TERA by making a request to the Tribe in accordance with the TERA and § 224.63(g).

(b) Upon obtaining copies of Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures under subsection (a), a person or entity that may be an interested party may file a petition with the Tribe under those Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures.

(c) If the person or entity that may be an interested party files a petition alleging noncompliance with a TERA, the person or entity becomes a petitioner, and the Tribe must respond according to § 224.106.

§ 224.106 If a Tribe has enacted Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures for challenging Tribal action, how must the Tribe respond to a petition?

If a Tribe has enacted Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures under which a petitioner may file a petition alleging noncompliance with a TERA, the Tribe must:

(a) Within a reasonable time issue a final written decision under the Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures that addresses the claim. The decision may include a determination of whether the petitioner is an interested party;

(b) Provide a copy of its final written decision to the petitioner; and

(c) If the Tribe fails, within a reasonable period, to issue a written decision to a petition that a petitioner brings under applicable Tribal laws, regulations, or procedures the petitioner may file a petition with the Secretary.