Tribal Consultation: Additional Federal Actions Needed for Infrastructure Projects
Abstract
Federal agencies are required in certain circumstances to consult with tribes on infrastructure projects and other activities, such as permitting natural gas pipelines, which may affect tribal natural and cultural resources. GAO was asked to review federal agencies' processes for consulting with tribes on infrastructure. This report examines, among other things, key factors tribes and selected federal agencies identified that hinder effective consultation on infrastructure projects and steps agencies have taken to facilitate tribal consultation. GAO examined laws, regulations, and policies and interviewed officials from 21 federal agencies that are generally members of the FPISC. GAO also summarized comments that 100 tribes submitted to federal agencies in 2016 to provide input on tribal consultation for infrastructure projects and interviewed available officials from 57 tribes and eight tribal organizations. Tribal and agency views are not generalizable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1169531
Entities
People
- Alyssa M. Hundrup
- Anne-marie Fennell
- Carolyn Blocker
- Cindy Gilbert
- Cindy Saunders
- Dave Messman
- Jeanette Soares
- Jeff Malcolm
- Joe Hackett
- John Delicath
- Joseph Capuano
- Kelsey Kennedy
- Kiki Theodoropoulos
- Sara Sullivan
- Sarah Veale
- Serena Lo
- Swati S. Thomas
- Vincent Whalen
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office