The state of Wyoming plans to appeal the treatment as state designation for the
Eastern Shoshone Tribe
and the
Northern Arapaho
Tribe.
The state objected when the tribes submitted their
Clean Air Act application to the
Environmental Protection Agency.
Gov. Matt Mead (R) claims approval will lead the tribes to assert greater jurisdiction on the Wind River Reservation and in border towns.
"The tribes’ application, if granted, has implications for criminal law, civil law, water law and taxation. It also takes away the voices of citizens in Kinnear, Riverton and Pavillion," Mead wrote in a letter to the EPA, County 10 News reported.
A state lawmaker who has experience in Indian issues and has worked with both tribes disputed the claim, however. "It only affects air quality,” state
Sen. Cale
Case (R) told commissioners in Fremont County, County 10 News reported.
Congress amended the Clean Air Act and the
Clean Water
Act to recognize tribal authority. Several states have fought tribal
designations in court but their challenges have been rejected.
Turtle Talk has posted some documents from
matter.
Get the Story:
Fremont County to communicate with state on moving forward with appeal to EPA ruling regarding Indian Country boundaries
(County 10 News 12/10)
Sen. Cale Case: EPA ruling deals with air quality matters only; Taxation and criminal jurisdiction unchanged
(County 10 News 12/10)
Federal agency says Riverton still is part of 'Indian Country'
(The Riverton Daily Ranger 12/10)
Related Stories
EPA approves treatment as state status for
Wyoming tribes (12/10)
Tribes in Wyoming seek
treatment as state status from EPA (11/22)
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