MEMORANDUM

 SUBJECT:	Consultation on Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, "Managing Emission from Oil and Natural Gas Production in Indian Country" 

FROM:	Mary Kissell
		Community and Tribal Programs Group/Outreach and Information Division/Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
		United States Environmental Protection Agency
					
TO:		Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0151

On July 18, 2014, tribal leaders and other tribal representatives for the Ute Indian Tribe; the MHA Nation (Three Affiliated Tribes); the Crow Nation; and the Blackfeet Tribe met with senior United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff to discuss three rulemakings. This memorandum documents the discussion for the subject rulemaking, "Managing Emission from Oil and Natural Gas Production in Indian Country." The meeting was held at EPA Region 8, in Denver, Colorado. Attached are: the participant sign-in sheet; the agenda; the May 28, 2014 letter inviting the 566 federally recognized tribes to consult on the subject rulemaking; and the notice of government-to-government consultation sent to Region 8 tribes notifying them of the July 18, 2014, consultation at the EPA Region 8 office.
Tribal leaders expressed concern about the impact of federal regulation of oil and natural gas production on tribal economies. They stressed the importance of eliminating or minimizing delays in the air permitting process and of creating a level playing field where control levels and permitting processes are the same for Indian and non-Indian lands. Tribal leaders also urged EPA to help tribes develop environmental programs that will enable them to manage tribal resources without interference from the federal government.

List of Attachments
   1. Agenda
   2. Meeting participant sign-in sheet (includes tribal and EPA participants)
   3. Consultation letter, dated May 28, 2014
   4. Notice of government-to government consultation for July 18, 2014 meeting that was sent to EPA Region 8 federally-recognized tribes.
   
