The California Energy Commission’s Tribal Consultation Policy ensures state agencies and departments engage in effective government-to-government cooperation, communication, and consultation with tribes concerning the development of legislation, regulations, rules, and policies on matters that may affect them.
The policy ensures effective consultation between the Energy Commission and California Native American tribes to advance the Energy Commission’s mission and provide meaningful tribal input into the development of regulations, rules, policies, plans, and activities that may affect the tribes. This policy is not a regulation, and it does not create, expand, limit, waive, or interpret any legal rights or obligations.
It is the Energy Commission’s policy that consultations with tribes occur early and often and be meaningful, respectful, and inclusive. The Energy Commission will communicate with tribes in varied ways, including by letter, telephone, email, online and in-person meetings, and, as mutually established, during any consultation process.
When possible, Energy Commission staff will accommodate tribal consultation meetings at tribal government offices.
Where deadlines have been established, the Energy Commission staff will make reasonable efforts to accommodate tribal requests to modify schedules. The Energy Commission will consider and document tribal input and communicate to tribes when a specific consultation has concluded.
