Five utility companies in Minnesota say the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe lacks the authority to regulate a power line on the reservation.

The companies say the tribe lacks authority over non-Indian owned land. They say the proposed route for the 230-kilovolt line does not cross any trust land.

The state has already approved the power line. The tribe says it retains authority on the reservation under treaties.

The plaintiffs are Otter Tail Power, Minnkota Power Cooperative, Minnesota Power Xcel Energy and Great River Energy. They filed the lawsuit in federal court.

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Utilities suing for power line access (The St. Paul Pioneer Press 4/28)