Land transfer hearing March 4
By JILL DENNING GACKLE
BHG News Service
The first in a series of hearings on a proposed land transfer to the Three Affiliated Tribes and other "excess" U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land will be March 4 in New Town and Garrison and March 7 in Beulah.
The hearing will be at 10 a.m. the New Town City Hall and 3 p.m. at the Garrison City Auditorium. The hearing will be 10 a.m. March 7 at the Beulah Civic Center.
The hearing is part of a study by Eide Bailly, the firm hired by the state legislature when a bill was proposed in the 2013 Legislative Session to return "excess" lands because of noxious weeds, public access to the lands, wildlife habitat, endangered species and the proposed tribal land transfer.
Eide Bailly said in a letter to stakeholders that "excess" lands are defined as land that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took from individuals bordering Lake Sakakawea above the 1854 feet mean sea level election and around Lake Oahe above the 1620 feet mean sea level.
Stakeholders were asked to respond to questions about their concerns by mail and/or attend a hearing. Additional hearings are in Linton, Fort Yates and Bismarck. The Bismarck hearing will be 2 p.m. June 11 at the State Capitol.
