Fort Berthold POWER, located on the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara nations, supports Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in her decision to not overturn the BLM methane rule. Had the rule been repealed, the opportunity to reduce methane reductions on tribal and federal lands would have been eliminated forever.
As a representative on the Senate Committee of Indian Affairs, Heitkamp voted to protect the interest of the tribal nations that she represents. Since the rule will be effective on federal and tribal lands it is our tribal nations that will continue to loses proper compensation for our wasted resources.
Members of Fort Berthold POWER requested that Mandan, Hidatsa and Arika nations support the rules to protect tribal allottees, tribal-owned resources, and most of all clean air that we all need to survive. The rule curtails waste over several years, and so the effect on the oil industry is a drop in the bucket. This is what responsible development looks like, right?
Tribes should get paid for the waste and our lands should not be exploited for short term gain. Our representatives should protect the interest of all people of North Dakota, not just the oil industry.
DeVille lives in Mandaree, N.D.