The Oneida Nation of New York has dropped, for now, its sovereignty challenge to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The tribe believes that OSHA doesn't have the ability to enforce federal standards in Indian Country. The tribe objected when OSHA found violations at the Turning Stone Casino Resort.

On April 18, the OSHA Review Commission rejected the tribe's arguments but rather than appeal, the tribe will pay a $2,625 fine. A spokesperson described the decision as "strategic" in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Sherrill v. Oneida Nation.

Get the Story:
Oneida Nation pays fine to OSHA (The Syracuse Post-Standard 9/29)

OSHA Review Commission Decision:
Secretary of Labor v. Turning Stone Casino Resort (April 18, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Oneida Nation, New York - http://www.oneida-nation.net
Occupational Safety & Health Administration - http://www.osha.gov

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

Related Stories:
City seeks title to Oneida Nation properties (9/28)
BIA seeks comments on Oneida Nation trust lands (9/27)
Oneida Nation land claim mediator calls it quits (09/09)
Oneida Nation says county can't foreclose on land (9/8)
Son of land claim judge wins at Oneida Nation (08/23)
Oneida Nation files lawsuits to challenge taxes (8/17)
Oneida Nation offers to settle land claim for $250M (8/12)
Oneida Nation to make school tax payments (8/10)
Oneida Nation makes payment in property tax dispute (8/9)
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe to pay tax bill in New York (08/05)
Oneida Nation gets respite in property tax fight (07/06)
Oneida Nation in talks with Pataki over land claim (6/23)
Editorial: Now's the time to settle tribal land claims (7/5)
Cayuga tribes to challenge land claim decision (7/5)
Pataki scales back Catskills casino legislation (6/10)
BIA says Oneida Nation lands are in restricted status (6/3)
Oneida Nation to detail spending in tax fight (5/25)
Supreme Court won't rehear Oneida Nation case (5/24)
Oneida Nation open to land claim talks with Pataki (5/18)
Pataki presses Oneida Nation to settle land claim (5/16)
Column: Tribes just can't come and take 'our' land (5/11)
Pataki: No tribal trust lands without state approval (4/28)
New York Senate votes against trust land for tribes (4/20)
Pataki, county blast Oneida Nation's trust land bid (4/14)
Oneida Nation seeks trust land in wake of ruling (4/14)
Supreme Court decision derails Pataki settlements (4/11)
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe to pay taxes on acquired land (4/8)
Supreme Court called less sympathetic to Indians (4/7)
Fallout from Supreme Court ruling on Oneida Nation (4/6)
BIA official calls high court ruling 'quite depressing' (03/31)
Major defeat for Oneida Nation in Supreme Court case (3/30)
Pataki, city, foes pleased with Oneida Nation ruling (3/30)
Major defeat for Oneida Nation in Supreme Court case (3/29)
Oneida Nation ruling could impact land claims (01/13)
Passage of time at issue in Oneida Nation case (01/12)
Oneida Nation wants court to uphold promises (1/12)
Supreme Court rejects two Indian law cases (1/12)
Supreme Court to hear Oneida Nation land dispute (1/10)
New York municipalities pony up for court brief (12/14)
Hearing set for Oneida Nation treaty rights case (11/12)
Supreme Court takes action on Indian law cases (11/02)
Tribes file briefs in Oneida Nation land case (10/18)
Supreme Court Roundup: 2003-2004 Term (07/08)
Supreme Court to hear dispute over Oneida Nation land (06/29)
Oneida Nation sees support in Bush administration brief (06/08)
Appeal planned in Cayuga Nation land rights case (04/30)
Cayuga Nation land rights upheld by federal judge (4/26)
Cayuga Nation's plans for land worry some in village (04/07)
Report: Seneca-Cayuga Tribe has bigger plans in store (04/06)
NIGC accused of 'ducking' casino land issue in N.Y. (03/23)
Judge in N.Y. hears Seneca-Cayuga land dispute (03/12)
Supreme Court asks for DOJ brief in Oneida case (02/24)
Bill would terminate out-of-state sovereign rights (09/26)
Appeals expected in Seneca-Cayuga Tribe's land case (09/10)
Judge to decide fate of Seneca-Cayuga Tribe's land (9/9)
Cayuga tribes slowly reclaiming ancestral territory (09/02)
Okla. tribe says court decision bolsters case (07/24)
Cayuga Nation welcomes Indian Country decision (07/23)
Oneida Nation wins treaty lands case (7/22)