The Osage Minerals Council will be making rounds through the community to meet with headright holders to discuss the implementation of a Tribal Energy Resource Agreement. The decision was made during an April 21 meeting.
First approved in 2005, a TERA between a tribe and the Department of Interior allows a tribe to review, approve and manage leases, business agreements and rights of way for energy development on tribal land without having to go through the Secretary of Interior every step of the way.
Councilwoman Margo Gray made a motion to hold meetings and online webinars during May to answer questions the community has about a TERA.
“We are going to be holding a meeting in the next few weeks. We are looking at dates to discuss specifically this [TERA] and a path of where we are going in the next 13 months,” Gray said. “We want to hear from you, and we want to go out to each of our communities and discuss this. That way you are able to talk face to face with us and we could get the feedback.”
Council members agreed they want to hear from the community. However, some members expressed concern about meeting with shareholders too early in the TERA process.
Councilman Paul Revard said, “I think Councilwoman [Marsha] Harlan said this from the very get go, this needs to be run by them. We need to share what we talk about and what we’re doing with them and I agree with that, but I think having a meeting with them this early on, I know it’s been a couple years, but we are so far away from having a TERA that we can all agree on.”
Councilman Talee Redcorn pushed for the meeting with headright owners. He argued the minerals council has gone as far as they can go putting together all the elements.
“I like the TERA, I want to see what the community says, I want to see what the Executive [Branch] says, I want to see what Congress says. I have been hearing what the BIA says, I don’t like it. And they continue to write regulations that take away our assets,” Redcorn said. “I want to be clear to our shareholders how I feel, I’m ready to grab that microphone and answer those questions the best that I can and it ain’t going to be easy, I know that.”
The motion passed with five votes from council members Myron Red Eagle, Everett Waller, Gray, Harlan, Redcorn. Council members Susan Foreman, and Revard voted against the motion.
The community meetings are scheduled for:
– Grayhorse: May 10 at 6:30 p.m.
– Hominy: May 17 at 6:30 p.m.
– Pawhuska: May 24 at 6:30 p.m.
By
Kennedy Sepulvado
Original Publish Date: 2021-05-07 00:00:00
