A federal judge in Montana has dismissed a lawsuit that challenged the Northern Cheyenne Tribe's ownership of the Tongue River bed.

U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull adopted the recommendations of a magistrate who sided with the tribe and the United States in a lawsuit filed by an energy development firm. Fidelity Exploration & Production Co. had claimed rights to drill in the Tongue River.

The tribe owns at least half of the riverbed under a federal agreement.

Get the Story:
Judge rejects Tongue River dispute suit (AP 1/27)

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

Related Stories:
Judge sides with tribe, U.S. on Tongue River bed (10/18)
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)
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