EPA Proposes Water Quality Standards for Indian Reservations
On May 5, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Proposed Rule to establish baseline federal water quality standards for Indian reservation waters that currently do not have standards in effect under the Clean Water Act (CWA). EPA says this rule...
GAO Report on Management of Indian Trust Accounts
On April 27, 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled “Actions Needed to Improve Interior’s Management of Trust Services.” In this report, GAO assessed the Department of Interior’s evolving management of trust funds for Indian tribes...
UNLOCKED Act Provides 99-Year Leasing Authority
As a part of permitting reforms in Congress, on April 26, 2023, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced S. 1322, the Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and...
States Pass Bills in Support of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978
While the United States Supreme Court considers whether to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in the Haaland v. Brackeen case, a number of State governments have passed laws supporting protections for Native American children in foster care systems and in...