The Ute Tribe of Utah said it might ban an energy company from the reservation.

The tribe signed an agreement with QEP Field Services, a subsidiary of Questar Corporation to build and operate a natural gas processing plant on the reservation. The tribe ordered a halt to the project after raising concerns about QEP's work.

QEP responded by taking the tribe to federal court. At first a judge said the company could resume work but the ruling was vacated last Friday.

QEP also asked the judge to hold the tribe in contempt. “We had invited Questar onto the reservation to develop our minerals,” Chairman Curtis Cesspooch said in a press release. “But instead of acting as our partners, they have harmed the tribe and told us we do not exist as a people in our own reservation.”

The QEP agreement was reportedly written by John Jurrius, the tribe's controversial former financial adviser. The tribe has accused Jurrius of fraud.

Get the Story:
Tribe could ban Questar, affiliates from reservation (The Uintah Basin Standard 7/19)

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