Editorial: Clarity on Oneida Nation land-into-trust

Thursday, May 8, 2008  

"Rep. Michael Arcuri and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton need to join U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer in urging the Interior Department to hold off on the Oneida Indian Nation's land-into-trust application until all unresolved issues are addressed.

Last week, we urged Schumer, D-N.Y., Clinton, D-N.Y., and Arcuri, D-Utica, to outline what regulations the Oneidas would have to abide by following the trust decision. Issues hinge around educating Oneida, Madison and other surrounding counties on the ramifications of the agreement in terms of land and back taxes and what types of federal regulations would go into effect regarding alcohol, infrastructure, codes and public safety.

Schumer later wrote a letter to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne asking the department to “give all parties involved an opportunity to reach a mutually beneficial global settlement — one that resolves issues of sovereignty, taxation, and the tribe's land claims, and that avoids a long litigation battle.”

On Tuesday, the Interior Department said Associate Deputy Secretary James Cason had agreed to respond to Schumer’s letter."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Area needs clarity on land trust (The Utica Observer-Dispatch 5/8)

Relevant Documents:
Final EIS (March 2008) | Draft EIS (November 2006)

Federal Register Notice:
Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Transfer From Fee to Trust of Parcels Owned by the Oneida Indian Nation of New York in Oneida and Madison Counties, New York (February 22, 2008)

From the Indianz.Com Archive:
BIA official calls high court ruling 'quite depressing' (March 31, 2005)
Major defeat for Oneida Nation in Supreme Court case (March 30, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Oneida Nation Trust - http://www.oneidanationtrust.com
Oneida Nation, New York - http://www.oneida-nation.net
Indian Nation Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition Applications in New York State - http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/888.html
Oneida Indian Nation's Land Into Trust Application, Madison County - http://www.madisoncounty.org/motf/OINTrustMain.html

Sherrill v. Oneida Nation Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Souter] | Dissent [Stevens]

Related Stories:
Interior delays decision on Oneida land-into-trust (5/7)
Sen. Schumer seeks delay on Oneida land-into-trust (5/6)
Editorial: Questions on Oneida Nation land-into-trust (5/1)
Decision on Oneida land-into-trust due this week (4/28)
Wisconsin tribe objects to Oneida land-into-trust (4/25)
Rep. Acuri: Explaining Oneida land-into-trust rider (4/10)
Rep. Arcuri tried to block Oneida land-into-trust (4/9)
Cason 'elusive' on Oneida Nation decision (4/4)
BIA still reviewing Oneida Nation land-into-trust (3/31)
Oneida Nation, county meet for first time in years (3/28)
Oneida Nation asks BIA for all 17,000 acres in trust (3/25)
County discusses Oneida Nation land-into-trust (03/07)
Cason to follow through on Oneida land-into-trust (2/25)
BIA to rule on Oneida trust lands request (2/22)
Cason to brief counties on Oneida land-into-trust (2/22)