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THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2003

The Assiniboine and Sioux tribes on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana have hope that their utility tax will be authorized by the courts.

The tribes were given one last change to justify the tax by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. In a unanimous ruling, the court authorized an inquiry into the operation of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in order to determine whether the railroad has an impact on tribal health, welfare and safety.

Get the Story:
Tribes hope to restore tax on BNSF (The Billings Gazette 3/20)

Get the Decision:
BURLINGTON N. SANTA FE R.R. CO. v. ASSINIBOINE & SIOUX TRIBES OF THE FORT PECK RESERVATION, No. 01-35681 (9th Cir. March 17, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Fort Peck Tribes - http://www.fortpecktribes.org
Burlington Northern - http://www.bnsf.com

Related Stories:
Mont. tribal tax up in the air (3/18)
Supreme Court strikes down Navajo tax (5/30)
Supreme Court to take on taxation (11/28)
Crow fate may rest in decision (11/28)
Court rules against Crow tax (07/18)