A federal Department of Interior official said the U.S. Supreme Court's city of Sherrill v. Oneida Indian Nation decision applies to the Cayuga Nation's purchase of land within their land claim area on the open market.

Based on the Sherrill decision, when taxes are not paid, the Cayuga Nation's property would be subject to foreclosure, Associate Deputy Secretary James Carson wrote in a Sept. 22 letter to U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-New Hartford.

Boehlert had contacted the department of behalf of Seneca County attorney Steven Getman.

Carson wrote that questions about the legality of the tribe's bingo halls in Union Springs and Seneca Falls have been referred to the National Indian Gaming Commission regulatory body. Carson also reiterated the department's support for a land claim settlement.

U.S. Rep. Richard W. Pombo, R-Calif., and chairman of the House Committee on Resources, announced a plan last week to introduce legislation to resolve New York tribal claims.

Sam Marchio, a spokesperson for Boehlert, said his office has not seen the legislative proposal yet and is conferring with the resources committee to see the scope of the plan before determining its response.