Tina Dolen of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission announced yesterday that the Department of the Interior had requested reconsidering the Narragansett Tribe's withdrawal from claims on excessed Navy land on the the West side of Aquidneck Island.

According to Dolen, the letter (attached below) from Interior Assistant Secretary Larry Echo Hawk, asks for special consideration under a previous Presidential order.

Mr. Echo Hawk cites the importance of furthering the Tribe's economic development, and that acquisition of what he terms aboriginal lands will provide services, job training, and jobs to tribal members in the surrounding area.

Mr. Echo Hawk cites Executive Order No. 13175, Section 6 which he believes requires each agency of the Executive Branch to consider a waiver of regulatory requirements where Indian Tribal Governments are concerned. He also request waivers of payment for the land, payment for maintenance and operation costs, and the responsibility to clean up the property.

We do not know if there is any precedent for such a waiver, and even BRAC Program Director Mr. Drozd comments he expects Navy will get this letter but has no idea what they will do.
— APIC Press release

View/download letter (1.2Mb PDF)

Editorial note: Yes, this is just the press release. I've been sick for the past few days.