# APRIL 2005 CROW TRIBAL LEGISLATURE

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## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

APRIL 2005 CROW TRIBAL LEGISLATURE

BILL NO. CLBO05-12

INTRODUCED BY CARL E. VENNE, CHAIRMAN
CROW TRIBAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED “CROW TRIBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ACT TO INITIATE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AND TO ESTABLISH
AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNCIL AND A BOARD OF
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW”

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Legislative Branch of the Crow Tribe by
and through its organic document, the Constitution and Bylaws dated July 14, 2001, and
particularly Article V Section 2 (a) and (c) and its authority to provide for the health,
safety, morals and welfare of the Tribe, the Crow Tribal Legislative Branch of the Crow
Tribe hereby establishes a public. body to be known as the Crow Tribal Environmental
Quality Council, and enacts this Ordinance which shall establish the purposes, powers
and duties of the Crow Tribal Environmental Quality Council.

In any suit, action or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of or
relating to any of its contracts, the Crow Tribal Environmental Quality Council shall be
conclusively deemed to have become established and authorized to transact business and
exercise its powers upon proof of the adoption of this Ordinance by the Legislative
Branch of the Crow Tribe and approved by the Chairman of the Crow Tribe. A copy of
this Ordinance duly certified by the Secretary of the Executive Branch shall be
admissible m evidence in any suit, action or proceeding.

ARTICLE I
DECLARATION OF NEED

It is hereby declared:

1. That within the exterior boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation there is
inadequate protection of the natural environment from profound influences
of population growth, high-density urbanization, industrial expansion,
resource exploitation, and new expanding technological advances.

2. That it is critically important to restore and maintain environmental quality
to the overall welfare and human development, and to preserve important
historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our unique heritage and maintain
wherever possible, an environment that supports diversity and variety of
individual choice.

3. That efforts are needed to develop protective codes and procedures for all
areas of environmental issues and prevention and restoration of many
practices are overlooked causing impairment of ecological systems and
natural resources important to all people within the boundaries of the Crow
Reservation.

4. Any rules created to implement policy by the council shall be approved at
the Legislative session or special session for approval including the signature
of the Chairman prior to becoming enforceable.

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the adoption of this Bill was duly approved by the Crow
Tribal Legislature with a vote of 16 in favor, __0 opposed, and __0 abstained and

that quorum was presented.on this ___19th _ day of April 2005.
sour & Vee C.D
Speaker of the House
Crow Tribal Legislatur
ATTEST:
Or: Crow Tribal Legislature
EXECUTIVE ACTION

pT ieeely
approve,
veto
this Bill, Crow Tribal Environmental Policy Act pursuant to the authority vested in the
Chairman of the Crow Tribe by Article V, Section 8 of the Constitution and Bylaws of

the Crow Tribe of Indians, on this 2 day of

arl E. Venne, Chairman
Crow Tribal Executive Branch

Bill or Resolution Number('LBaS-/2- Introduced by Execurhve Date of Vote 419-08”
Representative .

s

No Abstain
B. Cloud

C. Goes Ahead

O. Costa
V. Crooked Arm

R. Tron

J. Stewart

E. Fighter

L. Costa

L. Hogan

D. Old Eik

K. Real Bird
E. Pease

S. Medicine Horse
L. Not Afraid ©
P. Real Bird

D. Wilson

J. Stone
Secretary of the House

W. Plain Feather
Speaker of the House

Totals:

MSABREARRADS BE SBE

—O oO.

|

Results of Vote:

Tabled Veto Override

Signature of Officer: a\ is & N +O Date: 4 bd LF OS

Crow Tribal Environmental Policy Act

Part 1. General Provisions
TEAL Short title. Parts 1 through 3 may be cited and known as the "Crow
Tribal Environmental Policy Act".

1EA2_ Parpose. The purpose of parts 1 through 3 is to declare a Crow
Tribal policy that will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between humans
and their environment, to protect the right to use and enjoy private property free of undue
government regulation, to promote efforts that will prevent or eliminate damage to the
environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of humans, to enrich the
understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to. the Crow
Tribe, and to establish an environmental quality council.

1EA3 Policy. (1) The legislature, recognizing the profound impact of
human activity on the interrelations of all components of the natural environment,
particularly the profound influences of population growth, high-density urbanization,
industrial.expansion, resource exploitation, and new and expanding technological
advances, recognizing the critical importance of restoring and maintaining environmental
quality to the overall welfare and human development, and further recognizing that
governmental regulation may unnecessarily restrict the use and enjoyment of private
property, declares that it is the continuing policy of the Crow Tribe of Indians, in
cooperation with the federal government, local governments, and other concerned public
and private organizations, to use all practicable means and measures, including financial
and technical assistance, in a manner calculated to foster and promote the general —
welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which humans and nature can coexist in
productive harmony, to recognize the right to use and enjoy private property free of
undue government regulation, and to fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements
of present-and future generations of people living within the exterior boundaries of the
Crow Reservation:

(2).In order to carry out. the policy set forth in parts 1 through 3, it is the continuing
responsibility of the Crow Tribe of Indians to use all practicable means consistent with
other essential considerations of tribal policy to improve and coordinate tribal plans,
functions, programs, and resources so that the tribe may:

(a) fulfill the responsibilities of each generation as trustee of the environment for
succeeding generations;

(b) ensure: for all people within the Crow Reservation boundaries safe, healthful,
productive, and aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings;

(c) attain the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation,
risk to health or safety, or other undesirable and unintended consequences;

(d) protect the right to use and enjoy private property free of undue government

regulation;
- (e) preserve important historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our unique heritage and
maintain, wherever possible, an environment that supports diversity and variety of
individual choice;

(f) achieve a balance between population and resource use that will permit high
standards of living and a‘wide sharing of life's amenities; and

(g) enhance the quality of renewable resources and approach the maximum attainable
recycling of depletable resources.

(3) The legislature recognizes that each person is entitled to a healthful environment,
that each person is entitled to use and enjoy that person's private property free of undue
government regulation, and that each person has a responsibility to contribute to the
preservation and enhancement of the environment.

1EA4 Specific statutory obligations unimpaired. Nothing in LEA3 or
2EA\ shall in any way affect the specific statutory obligations of any department of the
Crow Tribe to:

(1) comply with criteria or standards of environmental quality;

(2) coordinate or consult with any other state or federal agency; or

(3)-act or refrain from acting contingent upon the recommendations or certification of
any other state or federal agency.

1EA5 Policies and goals supplementary. The policies and goals set forth
in parts 1 through 3 are supplementary to those set forth in existing authorizations of all
boards, commissions, and departments of the Crow Tribe.

1EA6 Private property protection -- ongoing programs of tribal
government. Nothing in [EA2, 1EA3, or 2EA1 expands or diminishes private property
protection afforded in the U.S. or Crow Tribal constitutions. Nothing in [EA2, 1EA3, or
2EA1 may be construed to preclude ongoing programs of the Crow Tribal government
pending the completion of any statements that may be required by IEA2, 1EA3, or
2EAl,

JEA7 Reserved for Environmental Rehabilitations and Response
Account.

1EA8 Environmental Quality Council Appointment and Composition.
The environmental quality council consists of 9 members as follows:

(1) the Chairman or the Chairman's designated representative is an ex officio member
of the council and shall participate in council meetings as a nonvoting member;

(2) 3 members of the Executive Branch appointed by the Chairman and 3

Members of the Legislative Branch appointed by the speaker of the house before the
the legislative day in the same manner as standing committees of the respective
branches are appointed.

(3) Two members of the general public. One public member must be appointed by the
Legislative Branch speaker of the house and one must be appointed by the Chairman of
the Executive Branch.

(4) the term for each council member is four years.

TEA9 Reserved.

Part 2. Environmental Impact Statements

2EA1 General directions -- environmental impact statements. (1) The
legislature authorizes and directs that, to the fullest extent possible:

(a) the policies, regulations, and laws of the Crow Tribe must be interpreted and
administered in accordance with the policies set forth in parts 1 through 3;

(b) under this part, all agencies of the Crow Tribe, except the legislature and except as
provided in subsection (2), shall:

(1) use a systematic, interdisciplinary approach that will ensure:

(A) the integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental design
arts in planning and in decision making that may have an impact on the human
environment; and

(B) that in any environmental review that is not subject to subsection (1)(b)(iv), when
an agency considers alternatives, the alternative analysis will be in compliance with the
provisions of subsections (1)(b)(iv)(C)(D) through (1)(b)(iv)(C)ID and, ifrequested by.
the project sponsor or if determined by the department to be necessary, subsection
(Mb)Gv(QOCV);

(ii) identify and develop methods and procedures that will ensure that presently
unquantified environmental amenities and values may be given appropriate consideration
in decision making, along with economic and technical considerations;

(iii) identify and develop methods and procedures that will ensure that the Crow Tribal
government actions that may impact the human environment are evaluated for regulatory
restrictions on private property, as provided in subsection (1)(b)(iv)(D);

(iv) include in each recommendation or report on proposals for projects, programs,
and other major actions of tribal government significantly affecting the quality of the
human environment a detailed statement on:

(A) the environmental impact of the proposed action;

(B) any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided if the proposal is
implemented;

(C) alternatives to the proposed action. An analysis of any alternative included in the
environmental review must comply with the following criteria:

(D any alternative proposed must be reasonable, in that the alternative must be
achievable under current technology and the alternative must be economically feasible as
detérmined solely by the economic viability for similar projects having similar conditions
and physical locations and determined without regard to the economic strength of the
specific project sponsor;

(I) the department proposing the alternative shall consult with the project sponsor
regarding any proposed alternative, and the department shall give due weight and
consideration to the project sponsor's comments regarding the proposed alternative;

(Ill) if the project sponsor believes that an alternative is not reasonable as provided in
subsection (1)(b)(iv)(C)(D, the project sponsor may request a review by the appropriate
board, if any, of the department's determination regarding the reasonableness of the
alternative. The appropriate board may, at its discretion, submit an advisory

recommendation to the department regarding the issue. The department may not charge
the project sponsor for any of its activities associated with any review under this section.
The period of time between the request for a review and completion of a review under
this subsection may not be included for the purposes of determining compliance with the
time limits established for environmental review in 2EA8.

(IV) The department shall complete a meaningful no-action alternative analysis. The
no-action alternative analysis must include the projected beneficial and adverse
environmental, social, and économic impact of the project's no completion.

(D) Any regulatory impacts on private property rights, including whether alternatives
that reduce, minimize, or eliminate the regulation of private property rights have been
analyzed. The analysis in this subsection (1) (b)(IV) (D) need not be prepared if the
proposed action does not involve the regulation of private property.

(E) the relationship between local short-term uses of the human environment and the
maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity;

(F) any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that would be
involved in the proposed action if it is implemented; and

(G) the details of the beneficial aspects of the proposed project, both short-term and
long-term, and the economic advantages and disadvantages of the proposal;

(v) in accordance with the criteria set forth in subsection (1)(b)(iv)(C), study, develop,
and describe appropriate alternatives to recommend courses of action in any proposal that
involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources;

(vi) recognize the national and long-range character of environmental problems and,
when consistent with the policies of the Crow Tribe, lend appropriate support to
initiatives, resolutions, and programs designed to maximize national cooperation in
anticipating and preventing a decline in the quality of the world environment;

(vii) make available to counties, municipalities, institutions, and individuals advice
and information useful in restoring, maintaining, and enhancing the quality of the
environment;

(viii) initiate and use ecological information in the planning and development of
resource-oriented projects; and

(ix) assist the environmental quality council established by IEA8.

(c) prior to making any detailed statement as provided in subsection (1)(b)(iv), the
responsible Crow Tribal official shall consult with and obtain the comments of any Crow
Tribal department that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any
environmental impact involved. The responsible Crow Tribal official shall also consult
with and obtain comments from any Crow Tribal department with respect to any
regulation of private property involved. Copies of the statement and the comments and
views of the appropriate tribal, state, federal, and local agencies that are authorized to
develop and enforce environmental standards must be made available to the Chairman,
the environmental quality council, and the public and must accompany the proposal
through the existing agency review processes.

(d) a transfer of an ownership interest in a lease, permit, license, certificate, or other
entitlement for use or permission to act by a department, either singly or in combination
with other Crow Tribal departments, does not trigger review under subsection (1) (b) (iv)
if there is not a material change in terms or conditions of the entitlement or unless
otherwise provided by law.

(2) The department of public service regulation, in the exercise of its regulatory
authority over rates and charges of railroads, motor carriers, and public utilities, is
exempt from the provisions of parts 1 through 3.

(3)a) In any action challenging or seeking review of a department’s decision that a
statement pursuant to subsection (1)(b)(iv) is not required or that the statement is
inadequate, the burden of proof is on the person challenging the decision. Except as
provided in subsection (3)(b), in a challenge to the adequacy of a statement, the Crow
Tribal Court may not consider any issue relating to the adequacy or content of the
department’s environmental review document or evidence that was not first presented to
the department for the department’s consideration prior to the department’s decision. The
court may not set aside the départment’s decision unless it finds that there is clear and
convincing evidence that the decision was arbitrary or capricious or not in compliance
with law.

(b) When new, material, and significant evidence or issues relating to the adequacy or
content of the department’s environmental review document are presented to the Crow
Tribal Court that had not previously been presented to the agency for its consideration,
the court shall remand the new evidence or issue relating to the adequacy or content of
the department’s environmental review document back to the department for the
department’s consideration and an opportunity to modify its findings of fact and
administrative decision before the Crow Tribal court considers the evidence or issue
relating to the adequacy or content of the department’s environmental review document
within the administrative record under review. Immaterial or insignificant evidence or
issues relating to the adequacy or content of the department’s environmental review
document may not be remanded to the department. The Crow Tribal court shal! review
the department’s findings and decision to determine whether they are supported by
substantial, credible evidence within the administrative record under review.

(4) To the extent that the requirements of subsections (1)(b)(iv)(C)() and
(1)(b)Giv)(C)AH) are inconsistent with federal requirements, the requirements of
subsections (1)(b)(iv)(C)() and (1)(b)Giv)(C)CID do not apply to an environmental
review that is being prepared by a tribal department pursuant to this part and a federal
agency pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act or to an environmental review
that is being prepared by a tribal department to comply with the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act.

(5) (A) the department may not withhold, deny, or impose conditions on any permit or
other authority to act based on parts 1 through 3 of this chapter.

(b) Nothing in this subsection (5) prevents a project sponsor and a department from
mutually developing measures that may, at the request of a project sponsor, be
incorporated into a permit or other authority to act.

(c) Parts 1 through 3 of this chapter do not confer authority to a department that is a
project sponsor to modify a proposed project or action.

(6) (A) A challenge to a department action under this part may only be brought against
a final department action and may only be brought in Crow Tribal court. Any action or
proceeding challenging a final department action alleging failure to comply with or
inadequate compliance with a requirement under this part must be brought within 60 days
of the action that is the subject of the challenge.

(b) Any action or proceeding under subsection (6) (a) must take precedence over other

cases or matters in the tribal court unless otherwise provided by law.

(7) The director of the department responsible for the determination or
recommendation shall endorse in writing any determination of significance made under
subsection (1)(b)(iv) or any recommendation that a determination of significance be
made.

(8)-A project sponsor may request a review of the significance determination or
recommendation made under subsection (7) by the appropriate board, if any. The
appropriate board may, at its discretion, submit an advisory recommendation to the
department regarding the issue. The period of time between the request for a review and
completion of a review under this subsection may not be included for the purposes of
determining compliance with the time limits established for environmental review in
2EA8.

2EA2 Department rules to prescribe fees. Each Department of the Crow
Tribal government charged with the responsibility of issuing a lease, permit, contract,
license, or certificate under any provision of Crow Tribal law may adopt rules prescribing
fees which shall be paid by a person, corporation, partnership, firm, association, or other
private entity when an application for a lease, permit, contract, license, or certificate will
requite a department to compile an environmental impact statement as prescribed by
2EA1. A department must determine within 30 days after a completed application is filed
whether it will be necessary to compile an environmental impact statement and assess a
fee as prescribed by this part. The fee assessed under this part shall be used only to gather
data and information necessary to compile an environmental impact statement as defined
in parts 1 through 3. No fee may be assessed if a department intends only to file a
negative declaration stating that the proposed project will not have a significant impact
on the human environment.

2EA3 Fee schedule -- maximums. (1) In prescribing fees to be assessed
against applicants for a lease, permit, contract, license, or certificate as specified in 2EA2,
a department may adopt a fee schedule that may be adjusted depending upon the size and
complexity of the proposed project. A fee may not be assessed unless the application for
a lease, permit, contract, license, ot certificate will result in the department incurring
expenses in excess of $2,500 to compile an environmental impact statement.

(2) The maximum fee that may be imposed by a department may not exceed 2% of
atiy estimated cost up to $1 million, plus 1% of any estimated cost over $1 million and up
to $20 million, plus 1/2 of 1% of any estimated cost over $20 million and up to $100
million, plus 1/4 of 1% of any estimated cost over $100 million and up to $300 million,
plus 1/8 of 1% of any estimated cost in excess of $300 million.

(3) If an application consists of two or more facilities, the filing fee must be based on
the total estimated cost of the combined facilities. The estimated cost must be determined
by the department and the applicant at the time the application is filed.

(4) Each department shall review and revise its rules imposing fees as authorized by
this part at least every 2 years.

(5) In calculating fees under this section, the department may not include in the
estimated project cost the project sponsor's property or other interests already owned by
the project sponsor at the time the application is submitted. Any fee assessed may be

based only on the projected cost of acquiring all of the information and data needed for
the environmental impact statement.

2EA4 Application of administrative procedure act. In adopting rules
prescribing fees as authorized. by this part, a department shall comply with the provisions
of the Crow Tribal Administrative Procedure Act to be adopted.

2EA5 Use of fees. All fees collected under this part shall be deposited in.
the Crow Tribal Environmental Protection Programs Budget. All fees paid pursuant to
this part shall be used as herein provided. Upon completion of the necessary work, each
department will make an accounting to the applicant of the funds expended and refund all
unexpended funds without interest.

2EA6 Multiple applications or combined facility. In cases where a
combined facility proposed by an applicant requires action by more than one department
or multiple applications for the same facility, the Chairman shall designate a lead
department to collect one fee pursuant to this part, to coordinate the preparation of
information required for all environmental impact statements which may be required, and
to allocate and disburse the necessary funds to the other departments which require funds -
for the completion of the necessary work.

2EA7 Reserved.

2EA8 Environmental review procedure. (1) (A) except as provided in
subsection (1) (b), a department shall comply with this section when completing any
environmental review required under this part.

(b) To the extent that the requirements of this section are inconsistent with federal
requirements, the requirements of this section do not apply to an environmental review
that is being prepared jointly by a Crow tribal department pursuant to this part and a
féderal agency pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act or to an environmental
review that must comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act.

(2) A project sponsor may, after providing a 30-day notice, appear before the
environmental quality council at any regularly scheduled meeting to discuss issues
regarding the department’s environmental review of the project. The environmental
quality council shall ensure that the appropriate department personnel are available to
answer questions.

(3) Ifa project sponsor experiences problems in dealing with the department or any
consultant hired by the department regarding an environmental review, the project
sponsor may submit a written request to the department director requesting a meeting to
discuss the issues. The written request must sufficiently state the issues to allow the
department to prepare for the meeting. If the issues remain unresolved after the meeting
with the department director, the project sponsor may submit a written request to appear
before the appropriate board, if any, to discuss the remaining issues. A written request to
the appropriate board must sufficiently state the issues to allow the department and the
board to prepare for the meeting.

(4) (a) Subject to the requirements of subsection (5), to ensure a timely completion of
the environmental review process, an agency is subject to the time limits listed. in this
subsection (4) unless other time limits are provided by law. All time limits are measured
from the date the department receives a complete application. A department has:

(D 60 days to complete a public scoping process, if any;

(ii) 90 days to complete an environmental review unless a detailed statement pursuant
to 2EA1(1)(b)(iv) is required; and

(iii) 180 days to complete a detailed statement pursuant to 2EA1(1)(b)(iv).

(b) The period of time between the request for a review by a board and the completion
of a review by a board under 2EA] (1) (b) (iv) (C) CIID or (8) or subsection (10) of this
section may not be included for the purposes of determining compliance with the time
limits established for conducting an environmental review under this subsection or the
time limits established for permitting of specific permits.

(5) An department may extend the time limits in subsection (4) by notifying the
project sponsor in writing that an extension is necessary and stating the basis for the
extension. The department may extend the time limit one time, and the extension may not
exceed 50% of the original time period as listed in subsection (4). After one extension,
the department may not extend the time limit unless the department and the project
sponsor mutually agree to the extension.

(6) If the project sponsor disagrees with the need for the extension, the project sponsor
may request that the appropriate board, if any, conduct a review of the department's
decision to extend the time period. The appropriate board may, at its discretion, submit an
advisory recommendation to the department regarding the issue.

(7) (a) Except as provided in subsection (7) (b), if a department has not completed the
environmental review by the expiration of the original or extended time period, the
agency may not withhold a permit or other authority to act unless the agency makes a
written finding that there is a likelihood that permit issuance or other approval to act
would result in the violation of a statutory or regulatory requirement.

(b) Reserved.

(8) Under this part, a department may only request that information from the project
sponsor that is relevant to the. environmental review required under this part.

(9) A department shall erisure that the notification for any public scoping process
associated with an environmental review conducted by the agency is presented in an
objective and neutral manner and that the notification does not speculate on the potential
impacts of the project.

(10) A department may not require the project sponsor to provide engineering designs
in greater detail than that necessary to fairly evaluate the proposed project. The project
sponsor may request that the appropriate board, if any, review an department's request
regarding the level of design detail information that the department believes is necessary
to conduct the environmental review. The appropriate board may, at its discretion, submit
an advisory recommendation to the department regarding the issue.

(11) A department shall, when appropriate, consider the cumulative impacts of a
proposed project. However, related future actions may only be considered when these
actions are under concurrent consideration by any department through preimpact
statement studies, separate impact statement evaluations, or permit processing
procedures.

2EA9 Definitions, For the purposes of this part, the following definitions
apply:

()) "Appropriate board" means, for administrative actions taken under this part by the:

’ (a) department of environmental quality, the board of environmental review, as
provided for in LEA8 & 1EA9;

(b} department of fish, wildlife, and parks, the fish, wildlife, and parks commission.

(c) Department of transportation, the transportation commission.

(d) Department of natural resources and conservation for Crow Tribal trust land
issues.

(e) Department of natural resources and conservation for oil and gas issues, the board
of oil and gas committee.

(f) Department of agriculture, the board of livestock.

(2) "Complete application" means, for the purpose of complying with this part, an
application for‘a permit, license, or other authorization that contains all data, studies,
plans, information, forms, fees, and signatures required to be included with the
application sufficient for the department to approve the application under the applicable
statutes and rules.

(3) "Cumulative impacts" means the collective impacts on the human environment of
the proposed action when considered in conjunction with other past, present, and future
actions related to the proposed action by location or generic type.

(4) "Environmental review" means any environmental assessment, environmental
impact statement, or other written analysis required under this part by a Crow Tribal
department of a proposed action to determine, examine, or document the effects and
impacts of the proposed action on the quality of the human and physical environment as
required under this part.

(5) "Project sponsor" means any applicant, owner, operator, agency, or other entity
that is proposing an action that requires an environmental review.

(6) "Public scoping process" means any process to determine the scope of an
environmental review.

Part 3. Environmental Quality Council

3EA1 Definition of council. In this part "council" means the
environmental quality council provided for in 1EA8.

3EA2 Meetings. The council may determine the time and place of its
meetings but shall meet at least once each quarter. Each member of the council is entitled
to receive compensation and expenses. Members who are full-time salaried officers or
employees of the Crow Tribe may not be compensated for their service as members but
shall be reimbursed for their expenses.

3EA3 Examination of records of government departments. The
council shall have the authority to investigate, examine, and inspect all records, books,
and files of any department, agency, commission, board, or institution of the Crow Tribe.

3EA4 Hearings -- council subpoena power -- contempt proceedings. In
the discharge of its duties the council shall have authority to hold hearings, administer
oaths, issue subpoenas, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of any
papers, books, accounts, documents, and testimony, and to cause depositions of witnesses
to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions in the
Crow Tribal court. In case of disobedience on the part of any person to comply with any
subpoena issued on behalf of the council or any committee thereof or of the refusal of any
witness to testify on any matters regarding which he may be lawfully interrogated, it shall
be the duty of the Crow. Tribal court or the judge thereof, on application of the council, to
compel obedience by proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the
requirements of a subpoena issued from such court on a refusal to testify therein.

3EA5 Consultation with other groups -- utilization of services. In
exercising its powers, functions, and duties under parts 1 through 3, the council shail:

~ (1) consult with such representatives of science, industry, agriculture, labor,
conservation organizations, educational institutions, local governments, and other groups
as it deems advisable; and

(2) utilize, to the fullest extent possible, the services, facilities, and information

(including statistical information) of public and private agencies and organizations and
individuals in order that duplication of effort and expense may be avoided, thus assuring
that the council's activities will not unnecessarily overlap or conflict with similar
activities authorized by law and performed by established departments.

3EA6 Reporting requirements. (1) The departments of environmental
quality, agriculture, and natural resources and conservation shall biennially report to the
council the following natural resource and environmental compliance and enforcement
information:

(a) the activities and efforts taking place to promote compliance assistance and
education;

(b):the size and description of the regulated community and the estimated proportion
of that community that is in compliance;

(c) the number, description, method of discovery, and significance of noncompliance,
including those noncompliance that are pending; and

(d) a description of how the department has addressed the noncompliance identified in
subsection (1)(c) and a list of the noncompliance left unresolved.

(2) When practical, reporting required in subsection (1) should include quantitative
trend information.

3EA8 Duties of environmental quality council. The environmental
quality council shall:

(1) On the first quarterly meeting the council shall elect a chairman of the council and
a secretary. The chairman will take the leadership role and act as a spokesman for the
council. The secretary will take notes at meetings and help set up the agenda for every
meeting. The set term for the elected positions is one year. At the beginning of the first
quarter of every year, the council will vote and re-select a chairman.

(1) gather timely and authoritative information concerning the conditions and trends in
the quality of the environment, both current and prospective, analyze and interpret the
information for the purpose of determining whether the conditions and trends are
interfering or are likely to interfere with the achievement of the policy set forth in 1EA3,
and compile and submit to the Chairman and the legislature studies relating to the
conditions and trends;

(2) review and appraise the various programs and activities of the tribal departments,
in the light of the policy set forth in 1EA3, for the purpose of determining the extent to
which the programs and activities are contributing to the achievement of the policy and
make recommendations to the Chairman and the legislature with respect to the policy;

(3) develop and recommend to the Chairman and the legislature tribal policies to
foster and promote the improvement of environmental quality to meet the conservation,
social, economic, health, and other requirements and goals of the Crow Tribe;

(4) conduct investigations, studies, surveys, research, and analyses relating to
ecological systems and environmental quality;

(5) document and define changes in the natural environment, including the plant and
animal systems, and accumulate necessary data and other information for a continuing
analysis of these changes or trends and an interpretation of their underlying causes;

(6) make and furnish studies, reports on studies, and recommendations with respect to
matters of policy and legislation as the legislature requests;

(7) analyze legislative proposals in clearly environmental areas and in other fields in
which legislation might have environmental consequences and assist in preparation of

- reports for use by legislative committees, administrative departments, and the public;

(8) consult with and assist legislators who are preparing environmental legislation to
clarify any deficiencies or potential conflicts with.an overall ecologic plan;

(9) review and evaluate operating programs in the environmental field in the several
agencies to identify actual or potential conflicts, both among the activities and with a
general ecologic perspective, and suggest legislation to remedy the situations; and

(10) perform the administrative rule review, draft legislation review, program
evaluation, and monitoring functions of an interim committee for the:

(a) department of environmental quality;

(b) department of fish, wildlife, and parks; and

(c) department of natural resources and conservation.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Acrow_montana%3A48cec4130b3901e9. Public record. Not legal advice.