The Bureau of Indian Affairs is releasing the environmental impact report for the Oneida Nation's land-into-trust application for more than 17,000 acres in New York.

The report, prepared by Malcolm Pirnie Inc., outlines seven options for action. The cover all of the 17,370 acres, two smaller land bases or no acreage at all [Summary of EIS].

If no land is taken into trust, the report predicts environmental disaster for the tribe and the region. It says the tribe will have to close its successful casino and businesses, costing thousands of jobs and millions in revenue.

The application was filed after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tribe has to go through the land-into-trust process before asserting sovereignty on its properties.

Get the Story:
Report: Putting no land in trust for Oneidas costs CNY millions (The Syracuse Post-Standard 11/24)

Relevant Links:
Oneida Nation Trust - http://www.oneidanationtrust.com
Indian Nation Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition Applications in New York State - http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ogc/lands.html
Oneida Nation, New York - http://www.oneida-nation.net

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

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