The Ute Tribe issued a press release on Wednesday in response to the EPA air quality plan for the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation that was finalized on December 8th. The press release shares that the Ute Indian Tribe worked with the EPA and the Tribe’s partners in the oil and gas industry for almost 10 years to develop the final rule that would support the Tribe’s sovereignty…[and] air quality on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. The final rule will apply to emissions from oil and gas development within Indian Country on the Tribe’s Uintah and Ouray Reservation. The Business Committee stated in the release, “We appreciate the efforts of EPA to finally complete this new air quality rule. The rule will provide certainty for energy development, streamline permitting, and improve air quality on the Reservation. We are thankful for the support of our partners in the oil and gas industry in developing this rule.” The EPA’s final rule is effective on February 6th, 2023.
