WASHINGTON, May 15 The U.S. government Tuesday delivered to Congress the Indian Land Rights-of-Way study, required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.The study, prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy provides analyses and recommendations on energy rights-of-way, or ROWs, negotiations on tribal lands.The study recommends grants, expansions or renewals of energy ROWs on tribal lands should continue to be based on terms negotiated between the two parties. In the event negotiations are not successful, the study recommends evaluation by Congress on a case by case basis.The two government departments found the negotiation processes for establishing or renewing ROWs on tribal land could benefit from mutually agreed-upon practices, procedures and actions. Those include developing comprehensive ROW inventories for tribal lands, creating models or standard business practices for energy ROW transactions, and a broadened scope of energy ROW negotiations.Copyright 2007 by UPI
