Page 681 TITLE 25—INDIANS § 3503

Sec.

(n) Authorization of appropriations.

(o) Termination.

3506. Tribal government energy assistance program.

(a) Financial assistance.

(b) Conditions.

(c) Considerations.

(d) Cost-share.

(e) Authorization of appropriations.

§ 3501. Definitions

For purposes of this chapter—

(1) the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized

group or community, including any Alaska

Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to

the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43

U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services

provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians; and

(2) the term ‘‘Indian reservation’’ includes

Indian reservations; public domain Indian allotments; former Indian reservations in Oklahoma; land held by incorporated Native

groups, regional corporations, and village corporations under the provisions of the Alaska

Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601

et seq.); and dependent Indian communities

within the borders of the United States whether within the original or subsequently acquired territory thereof, and whether within

or without the limits of a State.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title XXVI, §2601, Oct. 24, 1992,

106 Stat. 3113.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred

to in text, is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688,

as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 33

(§1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete

classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title

note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables.

§ 3502. Tribal consultation

In implementing the provisions of this Act,

the Secretary of Energy shall involve and consult with Indian tribes to the maximum extent

possible and where appropriate and shall do so

in a manner that is consistent with the Federal

trust and the Government-to-Government relationships between Indian tribes and the Federal

Government.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title XXVI, §2602, Oct. 24, 1992,

106 Stat. 3113.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

This Act, referred to in text, means Pub. L. 102–486,

Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2776, known as the Energy Policy

Act of 1992. For complete classification of this Act to

the Code, see Short Title note set out under section

13201 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and

Tables.

§ 3503. Promoting energy resource development

and energy vertical integration on Indian

reservations

(a) Demonstration programs

The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with

the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish and

implement a demonstration program to assist

Indian tribes in pursuing energy self-sufficiency

and to promote the development of a vertically

integrated energy industry on Indian reservations, in order to increase development of the

substantial energy resources located on such Indian reservations. Such program shall include,

but not be limited to, the following components:

(1) The Secretary shall provide development

grants to Indian tribes or to joint ventures

which are 51 percent or more controlled by an

Indian tribe to assist Indian tribes in obtaining the managerial and technical capability

needed to develop the energy resources on Indian reservations. Such grants shall include

provisions for management training for tribal

or village members, improving the technical

capacity of the Indian tribe, and the reduction

of tribal unemployment. Each grant shall be

for a period of 3 years.

(2) The Secretary shall provide grants, not

to exceed 50 percent of the project costs, for

vertical integration projects. For purposes of

this paragraph, the term ‘‘vertical integration

project’’ means a project that promotes the

vertical integration of the energy resources on

an Indian reservation, so that the energy resources are used or processed on such Indian

reservation. Such term includes, but is not

limited to, projects involving solar and wind

energy, oil refineries, the generation and

transmission of electricity, hydroelectricity,

cogeneration, natural gas distribution, and

clean, innovative uses of coal.

(3) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance (and such other assistance as is appropriate) to Indian tribes for energy resource

development and to promote the vertical integration of energy resources on Indian reservations.

(b) Low interest loans

(1) In general

The Secretary shall establish a program for

making low interest loans to Indian tribes.

Such loans shall be used exclusively by Indian

tribes in the promotion of energy resource development and vertical integration on Indian

reservations.

(2) Terms

The Secretary shall establish reasonable

terms for loans made under this section which

are to be used to carry out the purposes of this

section.

(c) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated—

(1) $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994,

1995, 1996, and 1997 to carry out the purposes of

subsection (a)(1) of this section;

(2) $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994,

1995, 1996, and 1997 to carry out the purposes of

subsection (a)(2) of this section; and

(3) $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994,

1995, 1996, and 1997 to carry out the purposes of

subsection (b) of this section.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title XXVI, §2603, Oct. 24, 1992,

106 Stat. 3114.)