A federal magistrate is siding with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and the federal government in a dispute over the Tongue River.

U.S. Magistrate Richard Anderson is recommending that a lawsuit challenging the ownership of the riverbed be dismissed. That would mean the tribe can claim half of the riverbed and that it is held in trust by the federal government.

The recommendation came in a lawsuit filed by Fidelity Exploration and Production Co. The company wanted to resolve the tribal ownership issue in order to proceed with oil and gas drilling.

A federal judge now has to accept or reject the magistrate's recommendation.

Get the Story:
Energy firm loses river ruling (AP 10/18)

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

Related Stories:
Montana governor withdraws from riverbed suit (02/08)
Montana governor to decide on tribal riverbed suit (01/24)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe battles state on river (11/23)
Fight over Montana tribal riverbed continues (11/19)
Montana officials spar over tribal riverbed suit (11/05)
Montana governor to fight tribe's riverbed rights (10/20)
Montana won't join fight over tribe's riverbed (10/19)