Cite as: 27 CNCA § 1502

A. Purpose: The purpose of this Act is to repeal the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Act of 2009,” and replace it with the “Cherokee Nation Energy and Sustainability Act of 2026,” to mandate sustainability and energy efficiency goals under the Secretary of Natural Resources, to authorize relevant programs, to consolidate requirements related to energy and sustainability reporting, and to establish the Cherokee Nation Office of Energy within the Natural Resources Department.

B. Findings: The Council of the Cherokee Nation finds that Cherokee Nation’s Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Act of 2009 did not sufficiently meet Cherokee Nation’s interests in achieving recycling goals and programs. Additionally, the Council finds that the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Act of 2009 is antiquated in view of the subsequent establishment of the Secretary of Natural Resources cabinet office and various executive actions and processes that meet or exceed the requirements of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Act in a manner that better aligns with modern Cheroke Nation administrative processes. The Council further finds that the reporting requirements of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Act were vague and insufficiently implemented from the inception of administering the Act and lacked public transparency. Additionally, Council finds that the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Act was both narrow and rigid in its conception of “recycling” and failed to address energy efficiency interests of the Cherokee Nation. The Council also finds that concepts of energy management and efficiency must be managed primarily by the Secretary of Natural Resources in order to achieve identifiable goals of energy and natural resource conservation. Finally, the Council has identified activities related to energy efficiency, recycling, litter mitigation, light pollution, natural resource conservation and mitigation of the impact of human caused climate change are “Public Health and Wellness Activities and Infrastructure” within the meaning of the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act, as amended.

Historical Data

LA 18–09, eff. August 16, 2009. Amended LA 17-26, eff. April 30, 2026.