Ore. says tribal land not acquired for gaming

THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2003

The state of Oregon is challenging the Department of Interior's decision to take land into trust for gaming purposes.

The department, in a December 2001 legal memorandum, said the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians qualified for a "Section 20" exemption under federal law. The document said the land should be considered "restored" because the tribe's federal status was restored by Congress.

The tribe had to sue the Clinton administration to obtain the favorable decision. An earlier Solicitor's Opinion concluded that the land was off limits to gaming because it was acquired post-1988.

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Relevant Documents:
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians v. Babbitt (December 5, 2001)