Osage Minerals Council sends letter to Chief Tillman opposing data center bill
The Osage Minerals Council voted 8-0 to oppose ONCA 26-70, which would require Osage Nation Congressional approval before any Nation entity could approve a data center on the reservation. The council said the bill could create uncertainty over authority for mineral lessees but emphasized that it is not taking a position on Google’s proposed Project Spring near Sand Springs.
The Osage Minerals Council sent Principal Chief Joe Tillman a letter opposing ONCA 26-70, legislation passed by the 10th Osage Nation Congress that would require Congressional approval for data centers on the Osage Reservation. The bill, sponsored by Congresswoman Angela Pratt, passed 10-2 and would also require consultation with the principal chief’s office and Congress at least 90 days before a project is advanced. Tillman could still pocket-veto the measure because the legislative session has ended.
The council said its objection centers on potential confusion over authority to administer and develop the Osage Minerals Estate, not support for or opposition to Google’s proposed Project Spring. At the same meeting, members voted down a letter authorizing Google to conduct a geotechnical survey of the proposed site, though council members said additional technical and federal environmental reviews are needed before decisions can be made. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has not determined whether the project will require an environmental assessment or a full environmental impact statement.