SENECA FALLS (AP) -- Hundreds are expected to attend a much-anticipated public hearing on the Cayuga Indian Nation's application to place 129 acres of upstate New York land into federal trust.
Strong opposition is expected at Wednesday night's hearing from local government officials and residents of Cayuga and Seneca counties.
Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs officials are taking testimony on a draft report that concluded there would be little or no negative impact, environmental or otherwise, from putting the land into trust. Such a move would make the land exempt from local and state laws and taxes.
The land is located near the northern end of Cayuga Lake, about 50 miles west of Syracuse, and includes two convenience store-gas stations operated by the Cayugas in Seneca Falls and Union Springs.
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