{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-push-back-on-blms-oil-gas-lease-sales-within-the-southern-ute-reservation/", "Hickenlooper, Bennet Push Back on BLM\u2019s Oil, Gas Lease Sales within the Southern Ute Reservation", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet called on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to work directly with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe to respond to their opposition to the roughly 2,500 acres of land the BLM opened for oil and natural gas extraction within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.\n\n\u201cThe Tribe has formally expressed its opposition to leasing these parcels, explaining that they are located within an environmentally and culturally significant portion of the Reservation where it has long sought to minimize surface disturbance,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cWe urge BLM to give careful consideration to the Tribe\u2019s concerns and to continue robust consultation throughout this process. As a sovereign Tribal Nation with deep cultural, environmental, and economic interests in these lands, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe\u2019s perspective should play a central role in BLM\u2019s decision-making.\u201d\n\nThe Tribe had previously submitted public comments formally opposing the sale of the nine parcels \u2013 totaling roughly 2,500 acres of land \u2013 within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in BLM\u2019s upcoming December 2026 Oil and Gas lease sale. The senators also urged BLM to consult with the Tribe ahead of any leasing decisions being made.\n\nFull text of the letter available HERE and below.\n\nDear Acting State Director Heinlein and Acting Deputy State Director Anderson:\n\nWe write regarding the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM\u2019s) proposed December 2026 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe\u2019s concerns about the nine proposed lease parcels located within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.\n\nThe Tribe has formally expressed its opposition to leasing these parcels, explaining that they are located within an environmentally and culturally significant portion of the Reservation where it has long sought to minimize surface disturbance. The Tribe has also requested meaningful government-to-government consultation before any leasing decisions affecting these lands move forward.\n\nWe urge BLM to give careful consideration to the Tribe\u2019s concerns and to continue robust consultation throughout this process. As a sovereign Tribal Nation with deep cultural, environmental, and economic interests in these lands, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe\u2019s perspective should play a central role in BLM\u2019s decision-making.\n\nThe Tribe has raised practical questions regarding access to several proposed parcels, including that development may require rights-of-way across Tribal lands that are subject to the Tribe\u2019s approval. We encourage BLM to work closely with the Tribe to fully understand and address these issues before making any final leasing decisions.\n\nGovernment-to-government consultation must be given the full time necessary to address the Southern Ute Indian Tribe\u2019s concerns, and the BLM should take all measures to ensure robust consultation, including withdrawal or deferral of the lease sale if needed. We urge the BLM to ensure its final decisions fully reflect the federal government\u2019s trust responsibility and commitment to meaningful government-to-government consultation with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.\n\nThank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-push-back-on-blms-oil-gas-lease-sales-within-the-southern-ute-reservation/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9010110516101122, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}