WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – The Miccosukee Indians are seeking to stop the state from purchasing agricultural land in the Everglades, arguing the deal will stall other key restoration projects.
The tribe this week filed an emergency motion in federal court in Miami. They want a judge to stop the South Florida Water Management District from purchasing 26,791 acres for about $197.4 million from U.S. Sugar.
The state says the land will be used to help restore the Everglades, suffering from years of dikes and diversions to make way for homes and farms.
The initial deal announced in 2008 was to pay $1.75 billion to buy all of U.S. Sugar's 180,000 acres, but it has been scaled back, in part, because of the economy. The water district board was set to vote Thursday on the revised version.