Indian Affairs agency abandons RI Navy land bid
Written by Associated Press Thursday, 10 December 2009 11:01
NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) – The Bureau of Indian Affairs has abandoned its bid to acquire excess Navy property on Aquidneck Island on behalf of the Narragansett Indian Tribe.
The bureau said in a letter made public Monday that it was no longer pursuing an application for the property. It did not say why.
The tribe had sought 260 acres that became available through the Base Realignment and Closure process. Federal agencies were given the first opportunity to apply for the land.
Tina Dolen, executive director of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, said the property offered major economic benefits.
Dolen said the federal BRAC program will publish description of the available property in the Federal Register.
Narragansett tribal leader John Brown said the tribe was exploring its options and did not consider the matter a done deal.
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