Christine Harada, Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) will host a series of consultations with Tribal Nations in September. The events will bring together Federal officials and Tribal leaders from across the country to listen and learn from one another, identify ways to collaborate, and discuss infrastructure projects that affect Tribal Nations. Tribes are invited to attend one of four consultation sessions to learn more about environmental review and authorization of infrastructure projects pursuant to Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41) and to share feedback on how the Permitting Council can improve coordination with Tribal governments on FAST-41 covered projects. 

The event series will include four consultation sessions that correspond to time zones and regions across the country:

Eastern, Eastern Oklahoma, and Southern Plains Region 
Monday, September 20, 2021
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT 
Register here

Pacific, Northwest, and Alaska Region 
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT 
Register here

Great Plains, Midwest, and Rocky Mountains Region
Monday, September 27, 2021
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT
Register here

Navajo, Southwest, and Western Region
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT
Register here

Tribal leaders can register for the events online. Tribes also may submit written comments to the Permitting Council if they are unable to participate in the consultations. Written comments must be submitted by Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Tribal Outreach and Consultation at the Permitting Council

Tribal consultation and strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships is a Biden administration priority. Presidential Executive Order 14008 charges Federal agency leaders who are conducting infrastructure project permitting reviews, to begin consultations at an early stage with Tribal officials involved in or affected by Federal agency infrastructure permitting or authorization decisions. Most of these Federal agency leaders are Permitting Council members, and are also subject to the Permitting Council’s Best Practices for improving Tribal engagement and outcomes. The Permitting Council also provides tools to help member agencies achieve and maintain regular, meaningful consultation with affected or interested American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Nations.