Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) is opposing a land deal involving the Klamath Tribes.

Merkley says the tribe will be able to ignore local laws if it buys the land near Portland and has it placed in trust. He plans to communicate his objections to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“If the land were put into a trust, it does not appear that the Land Conservation and Development Commission or the local governments involved would have any further say," Merkley said in a letter to the city of Wilsonville, The Woodburn Independent reported.

The tribe has been in talks to buy 385 acres from Tom and Chris Maletis. The land is off a major interstate.

The tribe is expected to file a land-into-trust application if the purchase goes through.

Get the Story:
Sen. Merkley opposed to Maletis land deal (The Woodburn Independent 4/29)

Related Stories:
Klamath Tribes close to deal to buy land near Portland (2/24)
Klamath Tribes land-into-trust stirs controversy (9/22)