Public land law lies at the heart of mineral development and environmental law in the western U.S., as much of the land across the west is owned by federal, state, and tribal governments. The Foundation provides a host of informative programs relating to mineral exploration and development, alternative energy, environmental issues, and water rights on public lands, including Special Institutes on topics such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the federal regulation and management of cultural resources. The Federal Oil & Gas Leasing Short Course is offered every other year. Other related programming addresses Indian and tribal laws, regulations, and issues, and Special Institutes periodically address federal and state royalty issues. A section of the Annual Institute is devoted to public lands issues.
Papers presented at these programs and institutes are available either by purchasing them in a complete manual (digital, hard copy, and/or audio) or individually on the Foundation’s Digital Library, Westlaw, or Lexis.
Tribal and Aboriginal Law
The pace of energy and mineral development on tribal and other Native American and Alaska Native lands in the U.S. has increased dramatically. At the same time, the laws, policies, and practices regarding natural resources development in “Indian country” have evolved considerably. Periodic Special Institutes keep practitioners informed about recent developments in this area.
Internationally, indigenous rights play an ever-increasing role in the development and operation of mineral development projects. The biennial Special Institute on International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development, and Investment is an indispensable resource for those practicing in the international arena.
Useful publications on tribal and aboriginal law include the relevant chapters of the American Law of Mining and Law of Federal Oil and Gas Leases, as well as papers presented at Annual and Special Institutes, available either by purchasing them as a complete manual (digital, hard copy, and/or audio) or individually on the Foundation’s Digital Library, Westlaw, or Lexis.