LJWorld.com / SLT insight

Archive for Saturday, October 18, 2003

October 18, 2003

To the editor:

In regard to the editorial "Around and around" (Journal-World, Oct. 14) I'd like to provide some insight.

Firstly, south of the river routes have always existed. Officials were simply too busy railroading Haskell Indian Nations University to pay attention. Lawsuits had to occur to force an environmental impact study (EIS) on the negative effects of the SLT. A no-build decision was reached after KDOT tried to defederalize the road project to avoid having to comply with federal guidelines.

No branch of government pays attention to alternate ideas when they're attempting to coerce or quell opposition to their desired goal. Many of the court victories that indigenous people achieved occurred years or centuries after the initial wrongdoing perpetrated by the settlers and the federal government.

Secondly, KDOT cannot apply eminent domain for land grabs against members of self-governing nations, tribes and bands. However, KDOT can apply eminent domain against common citizens south of the Wakarusa River. I don't want to see this road forced upon anyone, but there once was a no-build decision, and KDOT chose to proceed.

Thirdly, that was the previous administration's version of KDOT. It wanted to use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as its puppet for route choices. Hopefully, two years has changed something. Questions also linger over Baker University's violation of the federal Indian School Surplus Lands Act of 1962, which brings up land title transfer issues. Much needs to be sorted out.

Mike Ford,

Lawrence