Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Plaintiffs v. The Board of Oil and Gas Conservation of the State of Montana

Good Law

792 F.2d 782·1986 U.S. App. LEXIS 26240

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitJune 17, 198685-3573California8,266 words

Opinion

Fletcher, J.

The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation appeal from the district court’s order granting the Secretary of the Interior’s motion to dismiss. The Tribes claim that the Secretary of the Interior unlawfully delegated his authority by entering into a Cooperative Agreement with the Board of Oil & Gas Conservation of the State of Montana. The district court dismissed the action, holding that there was no justiciable controversy. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

In November, 1983, the district court entered a judgment in Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes v. Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, Civ. No. CV-83-79-GF (D.Mont. Nov. 7, 1983), an action between the Tribes and the Board of Oil and Gas Conservation of the State of Montana (State Board). The court held that the Department of the Interior, and not the State Board, has jurisdiction over the spacing and location of oil and gas wells on lands the United States holds in trust for the Tribes or its individual members (Trust lands). The court enjoined the State Board from enforcing Order Number 19-83, which affected Trust lands. No appeal was taken.

The State Board regulates the oil and…

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Parties

ASSINIBOINE AND SIOUX TRIBES OF the FORT PECK INDIAN RESERVATION-
Plaintiff
the BOARD OF OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION OF the STATE OF MONTANA-
Defendant

Judges

Skopil
Fletcher
Wiggins

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