Legislation introduced in the 112th Congress would help the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana resolve a long-running dispute over coal on the reservation.

H.R.1158, the Montana Mineral Conveyance Act, transfers 147 million tons of coal to the tribe. The tribe would also receive 40 percent of royalties from future development on another 145 million tons of coal.

The bill ends a dispute over mineral rights on the reservation that were transferred by the federal government to a third party in 1900. Great Northern Properties, a Texas company, now owns the mineral rights.

Get the Story:
Deal would transfer Roundup, Ashland coal tracts to Texas company (AP 3/23)