The Interior Department has agreed to acquire about 13,000 acres in trust for the Oneida Nation of New York -- including the tribe's Turning Stone Resort and Casino.
The decision raises some questions: Is the acquisition considered gaming? If so, is it subject to Section 20 of the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act, which bars gaming on lands acquired after 1998 except under certain circumstances?
According to the Bureau of
Indian Affairs and the tribe, the answer to both questions is no. But state Assemblyman David Townsend, a Republican, believes the new Section 20 regulations -- which were published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, apply to the acquisition.
Townsend said the tribe has to consult with local officials as required by the new regulations. The BIA and the tribe, however, said the Turning Stone site is within an existing reservation so it is not covered by rules.
Get the Story:Townsend questions impact of new Indian gaming rule (The Utica Observer-Dispatch 5/21)