The Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana has reached a settlement to its coalbed methane drilling lawsuit.

The tribe won an injunction to halt drilling near the reservation. Under a settlement with the Bureau of Land Management and an energy company, the injunction will be lifted in order to allow development by the company to proceed.

Under the settlement, the BLM will consult with the tribe on cultural issues. Fidelity Exploration and Production Co. will pay the tribe up to $10,000 to conduct an inventory of cultural properties. BLM will pay the tribe $47,000 for attorney's fees.

Get the Story:
Tribe, BLM, firm settle CBM suit (The Billings Gazette 11/2)

Relevant Links:
Northern Cheyenne Tribe - http://www.ncheyenne.net

Related Stories:
Tribe urged to consider coalbed methane development (09/14)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe to pay bond in drilling case (07/20)
Montana tribe develops water quality standards (07/11)
EPA case on tribal sovereignty attracts attention (06/07)
Judge says BLM failed to consult tribe on drilling (06/08)
Northern Cheyenne members speak out against drilling (6/2)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe wins injunction on drilling (6/1)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe seeks halt to new drilling (05/18)
Judge rejects tribe's call for halt on new drilling (04/06)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe wants new drilling halted (3/30)
BLM, drilling firm try to close hearing in tribe's case (3/23)
Report blames lax culture for Griles ethical 'train wreck' (03/17)
Tribal authority challenge denied (6/4)
U.S. backs tribal environmental rights (5/15)
Mine near Wis. reservation upheld (1/30)
Wis. tribe has hopes after cyanide ban (11/7)
State fighting tribal water ruling (11/6)
Wis. might appeal Ojibwe decision (9/25)
Challenge to tribal authority rejected (9/24)
Northern Cheyenne battles EPA over authority (07/21)
Court rejects challenge to tribal authority (4/17)
EPA Budget: No new tribal grants (4/13)
Pueblo battles arsenic in water standard (4/16)
EPA attorney pleads guilty (06/28)