Jim Inhofe: “for too long, economic development in Indian country has been hindered by antiquated rules and regulations, many dating…”

“for too long, economic development in Indian country has been hindered by antiquated rules and regulations, many dating back to before the turn of the century. Many American Indians continue to struggle, denied by bureaucracy the opportunity to take steps to improve their position. I am proposing legislation today that would reverse one of these situations. Under current law, Indian lands owned by more than one person require the consent of 100 percent of the owners before mineral development can go forward. Oftentimes, this fractionated property is owned by over one hundred people; it is difficult, if not impossible, to locate all the owners. Once found, developers must obtain their unanimous consent. As you can imagine, this creates a significant and often insurmountable obstacle for leasing or other development. Last year, Congress lowered this requirement for the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation to a majority, which more closely resembles regulations for non-Indian land. By loosening the consent requirements, these tribes have found the right balance between economic progress and protection of landowners' rights. I am proposing to extend last year's legislation to seven Oklahoma tribes: the Comanche, Kiowa, Apache, Fort Sill Apache, Delaware, and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.”