Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Two area Indian tribes have expressed interest in acquiring surplus Navy properties on Aquidneck Island, a move that will delay the process to dispose of the parcels, according to officials.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, on behalf of the Narragansett Indian Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, has written the Navy to ask for a 60-day extension of the deadline to formally request acquiring the surplus properties. The Navy has granted the extension.

The letter does not indicate which properties the tribes have an interest in acquiring or for what purpose they would use the land.

The Navy is launching a lengthy process to dispose of multiple parcels encompassing about 400 acres along the western shore of Aquidneck Island. The properties include the defunct naval hospital in Newport, former fuel tank sites in Portsmouth a waterfront site in Middletown and all of Burma Road, also known as Defense Highway.

Local officials, led by Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, envision the land being acquired for a variety of uses, including maritime business development, public parks, intermodal transportation, walking trails and a bike path.

The original version of this story was posted at 1:17 p.m and updated at 1:46 p.m..

Correction -- A previous version of this entry incorrectly stated the time frame for the extension deadline.

 Tags  Middletown RI Narragansett Indian Tribe Newport RI Portsmouth RI

Comments

nirvana said:

Why don't they ask for free Bentleys too?

Link | April 9, 2009 7:07 PM
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JUSTICE said:

EXCUSE ME, SEEING AS THE NATIVE AMERICANS LAND,PERSONAL PROPERTY AND FREEDOM WAS TAKEN FROM THEM BY YOUR ANCESTORS AS WELL AS MINE AND EVERYONE ELSE'S, I THINK THEY CAN ASK FOR WHATEVER THEY WANT.

DON'T THINK SO? GO BACK TO SCHOOL, GET AN EDUCATION-READ YOUR HISTORY MY FRIEND. DON'T LIKE IT? I BET THE NATIVE'S DIDN'T EITHER......

Link | April 10, 2009 2:36 PM
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