HIGHWAY BILL MAY LIMIT TRIBES' ABILITY TO EXCEED STATE ENVIRONMENT RULES

Senate environment committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK) has included language in the recently approved highway funding bill that could frustrate Indian tribes' efforts to set their own environmental standards on tribal lands -- a key issue for tribes that have sought authority to boost protections beyond state standards. The rider also could block pending efforts by an Oklahoma tribe to establish stringent water quality standards in portions of the Tar Creek Superfund site -- one of the most contaminated sites...