Seneca Nation Wants to Take on
I-86 Project if State Won't Follow Rules
The Seneca Nation says if the New York State Department of Transportation isn’t going to follow the rules while repairing Interstate 86, they’ll take on the project themselves.
Seneca President Robert Odawi Porter said during a news conference today that he was informed last week by New York State transportation officials that they would not be following the 19-year-old agreement that allows the nation to monitor construction sites and look out for their interests.
The Nation’s Tribal Employment Rights Office rules have been followed on every other state project that crossed Seneca territory. Porter says if New York goes ahead with the project the state would be considered trespassers on Indian land. Porter has contacted the Federal Highway Administration to ask that the $28.5 million for the project be re-allocated from the state to the nation so a Seneca company can do the work.
The Interstate 86 project calls for reconstruction of 11.5 miles from Exit 17 near Steamburg to Exit 20 in Salamanca.
The news leader of the Twin Tiers ...
since 1947
Seneca President Robert Odawi Porter said during a news conference today that he was informed last week by New York State transportation officials that they would not be following the 19-year-old agreement that allows the nation to monitor construction sites and look out for their interests.
The Nation’s Tribal Employment Rights Office rules have been followed on every other state project that crossed Seneca territory. Porter says if New York goes ahead with the project the state would be considered trespassers on Indian land. Porter has contacted the Federal Highway Administration to ask that the $28.5 million for the project be re-allocated from the state to the nation so a Seneca company can do the work.
The Interstate 86 project calls for reconstruction of 11.5 miles from Exit 17 near Steamburg to Exit 20 in Salamanca.
The news leader of the Twin Tiers ...since 1947
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