WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs announces the Indian Energy Opportunity Roundtable: Tribes, Companies and Government Explore Oil and Gas Possibilities. The half-day event, which will be held in Denver, CO on October 18, 2005, is cosponsored by the Department’s Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development and the Domestic Petroleum Council. The Roundtable is being held to gather all interested stakeholders to discuss the development of the vast energy resources owned by American Indian tribes. It is estimated that 37 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 5 billion barrels of oil lie under tribal lands.
“We look forward to gathering together to discuss the possibilities of collaborations that will be good for the tribes and good for America,” said Bob Middleton, Director, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development. “Our Trust responsibility for natural resources is one of the most critical functions performed by the Federal government in fulfilling the treaties and other agreements established with American Indian tribes.”
The event will bring together private, public and tribal entities to discuss the opportunities tribes have for developing their oil and gas reserves. Some of the featured speakers include the following: Nicholas Sinatra, Deputy Associate Director, Intergovernmental Affairs, The White House; Stephen Manydeeds, Division Chief, Division of Energy and Mineral Resources, Department of the Interior; Willam J. Barret, Chairman and CEO of Bill Barrett Corporation; Bruce Valdez, Executive Director, Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund; and Jim Abercrombie, Senior Vice President, Onshore West Operations, Dominion Exploration and Production.
Speakers will address several topics, including: A View from the White House; The Resource Potential in Indian Country, Successful Indian Energy Development, and Energy Business Models: Indian Country Legal and Tax Considerations. Those presentations will be followed by a roundtable discussion featuring various leaders in the area of energy exploration and development from private, public and tribal entities.
The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development was created by the Department of the Interior to act as its lead office to assist tribes and individuals with the exploration, development and management of energy resources found on their lands. The Domestic Petroleum Council is the largest association of independent natural gas and oil exploration and development companies in the United States.
What: Indian Energy Opportunity Roundtable: Tribes, Companies and Governments Explore Oil and Gas Possibilities
When: October 18, 2005 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. with a reception to follow
Where: Grand Hyatt Denver, CO 1750 Welton Street Denver, CO
CREDENTIALS: This invitation is extended to working media representatives, who are required to display sanctioned media credentials for admittance to the event.
