Tuesday, July 5, 2011

New Course "Environmental Law, Energy & Natural Resources in Indian Country" to be Introduced in Fall 2011 at Denver Law

In the fall 2011 semester, Denver Law will introduce “Environmental Law, Energy & Natural Resources in Indian County,” a new course offering to be taught by Troy A. Eid, a nationally recognized expert on Indian Law and one of Colorado’s top environmental and natural resources attorneys.

Mr. Eid, program co-chair, American Indian Law Practice Group, Greenberg Traurig in Denver, is a former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado. He has worked extensively with numerous Indian tribes and nations for more than 25 years, and has been involved in some of the most high-profile legal matters involving Indian law. He chairs the Training Committee of the Navajo National Bar Association, which is responsible for training and testing lawyers seeking admission to practice before the Navajo Supreme Court and trial courts.

“This seminar explores energy and natural resources development on Native American tribal lands in the U.S., and how tribes, states, and the federal government regulate and enforce environmental quality within Indian Country,” Mr. Eid says. “The seminar is open to all interested students and does not required any previous study or experience in American Indian law.”

The course will provide an introduction to tribal sovereignty and self-determination, along with some of the basics of Indian Country jurisdiction and tribal sovereign immunity.

“Students will examine the federal government’s trust responsibility to Indian tribes and nations,” according o Mr. Eid. “The seminar will also examine the legal framework used to regulate and enforce environmental quality, traditional and renewable energy development, and the use and stewardship of other natural resources on Indian lands.”

The tentative syllabus for the course will follow this schedule:
  • Week 1: Native American Tribal Sovereignty and Self-Determination
  • Week 2: Basics of Indian Country Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction
  • Week 3: The Federal Trust Responsibility to Indian Nations
  • Week 4: Creating Tribal Environmental and Regulatory and Enforcement Programs
  • Week 5: The Winters Doctrine and Indian Water Rights
  • Week 6: Mineral Leasing and Taxation on Indian Lands
  • Week 7: Tribal Energy Development and the Indian Energy Act of 2005
  • Week 8: Indian Tribes and the National Environmental Policy Act
  • Week 9: The National Historic Preservation Act and Tribal Consultation on Energy Projects
  • Week 10: The Uranium Legacy in Indian Country
  • Week 11: Sovereign Immunity and Contracting with Indian Tribes and Tribal Enterprises
  • Weeks 12-14: Students’ Paper Presentations
The course, L4703EE, will meet on Mondays from 2.45 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program, said, “This new course explores the vibrant and increasingly important roles that tribes play in contemporary U.S. society through the prism of environmental law, energy and natural resources. Mr. Eid has designed a course that, in his words, ‘Provides a bridge between Denver Law’s nationally recognized program in Environmental and Natural Resources Law’ and Indian County, the legal term that Congress uses to define Indian Reservations and other Native American lands held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of Indian tribes and nations.’

“Mr. Eid’s expertise and experience will add immeasurably to Denver Law’s commitment to expanding our environmental and natural resources program to cover the major environmental, energy, and natural resources issues of our times,” Mr. Smith said. “At the same time, students will learn about an area of law and culture that will widen their perspectives and insight about Indian Country.”

Editor’s notes: In the first picture above, the Honorable Billy Bell (left), Chairman, Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, and Adjunct Professor Eid (legal counsel to Ruby Pipeline LLC) on site north of Elko, Nevada, last January. The Ruby Pipeline Project is a new 677-mile interstate pipeline currently being constructed between Wyoming and Oregon to deliver natural gas from Colorado, Utah and Wyoming to 60 million consumers on the West Coast. In the second picture shows the $3.5 billion project Ruby Pipeline, which employs 5,000 construction workers. Here the pipe is being strung and welded prior to being lowered in the trench. Friday's blog posting will include an in-depth interview with Troy A. Eid.

1 comment:

  1. That would be great. It's good to know that there are now tons of environmental management training available to people in different places nowadays and that there are now tons of schools including it in the lessons they teach the students. we all need to learn about the environment.

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