Engagement
Federally recognized Tribes are sovereign nations exercising government-to-government engagement with the United States. These engagements can take the form of either informal dialogue or legally required consultation. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Tribal Liaison Officer serves as the bureau official for BSEE’s National Tribal Engagement Program and primary point of contact with Tribes, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporations, and the Native Hawaiian Community.
BSEE actions on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) could have Tribal Implications. Tribal consultations can identify the cultural values, religious beliefs, traditional practices, and the legal rights of Indigenous Peoples that may be impacted by Federal actions, BSEE implements consultation policies through formal government-to-government consultations and informal dialogue, robust collaboration, and meaningful engagement. BSEE is committed to maintaining open and transparent communications with Tribal governments, ANCSA Corporations, the Native Hawaiian Community, and other Indigenous communities. BSEE emphasizes trust, respect, and shared responsibility as part of a deliberative process to promote effective collaboration, transparent, and informed decision-making.
The ancestors of today’s Tribes occupied vast areas of land and depended on nearby ocean resources, even prior to both sea level rise at the end of the last ice age and interaction with the U.S. government. BSEE activities are proposed and conducted in the OCS. Many Indigenous Peoples have historical and cultural ties to areas where BSEE activities are proposed and conducted although they may no longer be physically located near the area. It is important to note the impact that the history of Federal law and policy has had on Tribal access to ancestral lands. Policies such as the Indian Removal Act of 1830 resulted in mass removal of Native Americans from their lands. These types of actions continue to have long-lasting impacts on Tribes and their relationship with the Federal government.
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BSEE is committed to partnering on a nation-to-nation and a government-to-sovereign basis with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporations, and the Native Hawaiian Community (NHC) regarding BSEE actions on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). BSEE’s activity could have Tribal Implications, therefore in accordance with BSEE’s Tribal Consultation Policy, The Department of the Interior’s Policy on Consultation with ANCSA Corporations, and the Department of the Interior’s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations Standard Operating Procedure for Consultation with the Native Hawaiian Community, BSEE is seeking your feedback on proposed rulemakings. We invite Tribal leaders to provide input on proposed rulemakings that BSEE plans to prepare over the next few years.
The collaboration and input of Tribal Nations, ANCSA Corporations, and the NHC are integral to the development of robust regulations for BSEE programs. Your insights play a crucial role in our rulemaking process, and we extend an invitation for dialogue and the opportunity to engage should you or your designee require further information on any aspect of our regulatory framework.
If you are interested in any of BSEE’s proposed rulemakings, please contact Bronia Ashford, Tribal Liaison Officer, at (202) 208-7251 or via email at Bronia.Ashford@bsee.gov. You can also submit a written response on the regulatory agenda to the National Tribal Engagement Program (NTEP) at tribalengagement@bsee.gov.
Tribes and ANCSA Corporations were notified of BSEE’s proposed regulatory agenda on July 24, 2022. The notification can be reviewed below.
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BSEE Hosts Consultations To:
• Honor our nation-to-nation relationship.
• Hear directly from Tribal leaders and representatives as we address the health, economic, racial justice, and climate crises — all of which disproportionately impact American Indians and Alaska Natives.
• Commit ourselves to a process that addresses Tribal needs and ensures we respect and take input to heart.
Previous Consultations
Sub-part J Pipelines Rights-of-Way Rulemaking
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) would like to invite you or your designee to participate in Government-to-Government consultations concerning an upcoming rulemaking that would propose to revise the existing regulations governing Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way. Please let us know if you have any questions or wish to engage in formal consultation by contacting BSEE’s National Tribal Engagement Program, tribalengagement@bsee.gov
Carbon Sequestration Rulemaking
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management are developing a joint notice of proposed rulemaking to regulate activities related to carbon sequestration on the outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Please let us know if you have any questions or wish to engage in formal consultation by contacting BSEE’s Tribal Liaison Officer Jack Lorrigan jack.lorrigan@bsee.gov, (907) 334-5357. Mr. Lorrigan will share any information that you provide with both bureaus.
Consultation Request: BSEE Proposed Rule Making
1014-AA-44 Oil-Spill Response Requirements for Facilities Located Seaward of the Coast Line
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement would like to invite you or your designee to participate in Government-to-Government and Government to ANCSA Corporation consultations concerning an upcoming rulemaking that would apply to oil spill response requirements for facilities located seaward of the coastline. BSEE is initiating this rulemaking to address the regulatory gaps identified by multiple investigations and studies following the Deepwater Horizon incident. Additionally, the proposed rule would implement recommendations of those reports and studies to advance oil spill response best practices. We are able to meet at your convenience by or before May 15, 2023, please contact our Tribal Liaison Officer, Jack Lorrigan at 907-738-3743 or jack.lorrigan@bsee.gov to request a time to meet. Additional information regarding the AA-44 rule can be found in the consultation letters below.
AA-44 Request for Consultation Letters
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Environmental Justice Strategy and Action Plan
Purpose: BSEE hosted three informational sessions on the early phase development of its Environmental Justice Strategy and Action Plan for Tribal Nations, the Native Hawaiian, Community, and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporations. The informational sessions introduced the new initiative to integrate environmental justice into bureau planning, policy development, and decision-making and invited perspectives on the bureau's four draft environmental justice goals: 1) Institutionalize Environmental Justice, 2) Deliver Equity on Federal Investments, 3) Reduce Burdens and Harms, and 4) Advance Meaningful Outreach and Engagement. Additional information on BSEE's environmental justice activities, including future updates on the Environmental Justice Strategy and Action Plan, can be found at: Environmental Justice | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
Informational Session (PDF presentations):
Alaska Natives and ANCSA Corporations
BSEE is still accepting written responses. Written comments can be provided to the following email BSEE National Tribal Engagement Program (NTEP) tribalengagement@bsee.gov.
Director's Roundtable
Purpose: The Tribal Roundtable provided a forum to discuss the Bureau’s National Tribal Engagement Program, to learn of Tribal concerns and issues, and to assist in developing and maintaining government-to-government relationships with Tribal Nations. The purpose of this meeting was for the Director to fully convey his thoughts and ideas for the scope and direction of this initiative and have an open discussion with Tribal members.
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Consultation Handbook
The BSEE Tribal Consultation Handbook is to establish procedures for government-to-government consultation with Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporations, and the sovereign Native Hawaiian Community. The handbook was signed by the Director on December 27, 2023.
Initial Notification - Tribal Program Development
Tribes and ANCSA Corporations were notified of BSEE’s proposed National Tribal Engagement Program policy development in July 2022, followed by a request for Tribal and ANCSA Corporations' input on this endeavor in August 2022. BSEE is currently notifying Tribes and ANCSA Corporations of the final, The National Tribal Engagement Program Bureau Interim Directive that was signed October 27, 2022. Notification letters to the Tribes and ANCSA Corporations are below.
Request for Consultation - NTEP Policy Review
ANCSA Corporations Leader Letter
Final Signed Policy - NTEP BID Signed
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Tribal Liaison Officer
Bronia E Ashford
(202) 208-7251Tribal Coordinator
Amanda Garrison
(720) 625-9769Federal Preservation Officer
Doug Jones
Gulf of Mexico Tribal Liaison
(571) 567-0619Regional Tribal Liaisons
Sara Guiltinan
Pacific Regional Tribal Liaison
(805) 515-6605Doug Jones
Gulf of Mexico Tribal Liaison
(571) 567-0619Jack Lorrigan
Alaska Regional Tribal and Community Liaison
(907) 334-5357Tribal Engagement
Eastern Seaboard Tribal LiaisonPlease use the email below to contact the National Tribal Engagement Program: tribalengagement@bsee.gov
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National Response Center Tribal Notifications
Tribes with NRC agreements in place will receive spill notifications based on selected incident criteria contained in the agreement application. To apply for an NRC Agreement, please email nrc@uscg.mil or fax (202) 267-1322. Additional information can be found on the National Response Center website below.
Additional Resources
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DOI Tribal Consultation
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BOEM Tribal Consultation
