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OCTOBER 5, 2000

A lawyer for three Connecticut towns opposing the expansion of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation said new rules proposed by the Department of Interior and the National Indian Gaming Commission are directed at his clients.

The Interior rule affects how lands are taken into trust when intended for gaming purposes. It would consider lands to be contiguous to a reservation even if separated by roads, railroads, or rights of way. It would add 25 CFR Part 292 and was proposed on September 14.

The NIGC rule enforces enviromental, public health and safety standards at casinos. It would add section 580 to 25 CFR called "Protecting the environment, public health, and safety" and was proposed on July 24.

Guy Martin, the towns' lawyer, said the two rules are the government's way of curing criticisms they have raised. The towns and the state of Connecticut lost a lawsuit against the Department of Interior last week.

In a related story, Martin wrote a letter to Tom Tureen, telling him to stop talking to his clients. Tureen was recently rehired by the Mashantucket tribe and was instrumental in settling the land claims of Eastern tribes in the 1970s

Get the Decision:
Connecticut v. Babbitt (Second Circuit Court of Appeals. No. 99-6042. September 2000)

Get the Story:
Lawyer says government threatening towns' suit (The New London Day 10/5)
Lawyers for 3 towns to Tureen: Stay away from my clients (The New London Day 10/5)

Related Stories:
Anti-Pequot towns: No one's helping us (9/28)
Pequot tribe tries to assuage fears (9/28)
Towns want 'sloppy' legislation fixed (9/27)
Residents want tribe to pay taxes (9/27)
Tribe wants to add more land (9/27)
Does a Pequot empire await? (Tribal Law 9/27)
Court rules against anti-Pequot towns (Tribal Law 9/26)
Towns optimistic about Pequot suit (Tribal Law 06/15)