Court revives Passamaquoddy lawsuit against BIA

Monday, September 17, 2007  

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday revived a lawsuit filed by members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine against the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

A group called Nulankeyutmonen Nkihtaqmikon (We Protect Our Homeland) sued the BIA for approving a lease for a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Pleasant Point Reservation. The group says the proposed terminal will harm the environment.

A federal judge dismissed the case but the 1st Circuit said the tribal members have standing to sue the BIA and that their claims that the lease was approved in violation of federal law are ripe for review. The judge will have to reconsider whether the BIA followed the law by approving the lease.

Get the Story:
Maine: Lease deal challenge revived (AP 9/14)

Court Decision:
Nulankeyutmonen Nkihtahkomikumon v. BIA (September 14, 2007)

Relevant Links:
Pasamaquoddy Tribe, Pleasant Point Reservation - http://www.wabanaki.com
Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township - http://www.passamaquoddy.com
Save Passamaquoddy Bay - http://www.savepassamaquoddybay.org

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