Citizen's Group suing Dept. of Interior's decision to put land into trust

By By: The Associated Press

Story Created: Jun 17, 2008 at 12:34 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 17, 2008 at 12:34 PM EDT

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - A citizens group is suing to reverse the
U.S. Department of Interior's decision to place 13,004 acres of
upstate New York land into federal trust for the Oneida Indian
Nation.

In legal papers filed in U.S. District Court Tuesday, Upstate
Citizens for Equality contends the federal agency does not have the
authority to place the land in Madison and Oneida counties into
trust, a move it says violates the New York state constitution.

The interior department announced the long-awaited decision last
month to put the land into trust for the Oneidas, a status that
exempts the land from local and state taxes and regulations but
makes it subject to most federal laws.

Spokesmen say New York state and the two counties will also file
a joint lawsuit to contest the decision.
     

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
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