FROM THE ARCHIVE

Osage oil not so good for water

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MAY 25, 2001

Jim Gray of the Native Times reports today that the Osage Nation oil production touted by Secretary of Interior Gale Norton while on a visit to Oklahoma this week wasn't always as kind to the environment as she might admit.

In the early 1980s, the community of Nelagoney was forced to bring in drinking water from nearby Pawhuska due to contamination of the drinking supply by oil. Restoration of the water cost over $750,000.

Dr. Kerry Sublette of the University told the Native Times that damage to Nelagoney couldn't happen again because new techonolgies would prevent it.

Nelagoney, incidentally, means "good water" in the Osage language.

Get the Story:
Interior Secretary campaigns energy policy in Indian country (The Native Times 5/25)

Relevant Links:
The Osage Nation of Oklahoma - http://www.osagetribe.com
The Nature Conservancy - http://nature.org

Related Stories:
Norton: Cooperation not conflict (5/25)
Norton: Indian Country won't get ripped off (5/24)
Osage Nation seeks new oil field (5/24)
In The Hoop: Oil, Bison, and Indians, Part II(5/24)
In The Hoop: Oil, Bison, and Indians, Part I(5/23)
Norton to meet with Osage leader (5/23)
Inside the energy policy (5/18)
Indian Country and the energy policy (5/18)