Land claim deal details released

Attorneys for Cayuga and Seneca counties and the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York on Wednesday released details of the proposal to settle all issues relating to the nation's pending applications with the U.S. Department of Interior to take lands in trust in the counties.

If accepted by both counties and necessary legislation is passed, the nation would withdraw its pending trust application and relinquish its right to seek trust status for lands in the counties in the future. In return, the Cayugas will be permitted to designate up to 10,000 acres of land it owns in the counties that would essentially be sovereign and therefore tax exempt. Up to two-thirds of that land could be located in Cayuga County and one-third located in Seneca County.

The tribe also would be able to build a casino somewhere in the state and would share revenue from a proposed gaming facility with the counties and state.