Seneca Nation seeks $2.16 million for Thruway use

According to a recent article in the Albany Times Union, the Seneca Nation is seeking $2.16 million from New York State for the section of the New York Thruway that runs through the Senecas' Cattaraugus Reservation, near Silver Creek, NY. This is due to an ongoing dispute between the government of the State of New York and the Seneca Nation of Indians over taxation to non-Indians over products (such as gasoline and cigarettes) purchased within reservation lands.

The bill, which covers the time period between April 14 and June 30, was sent to Thruway Authority Chairman John Buono with a demand for payment in ten days. Whether the Thruway Authority will pay the bill or not is yet to be determined. The $2.16 million figure is based per vehicle and calculated using the authority's official figures on its Web site, with the total number of cars being 28,000 per day.

The first bill does not include historic penalties or costs for damages to native lands. The tribe plans in the next two weeks to erect signs informing motorists of the fee and telling them it is to be paid by the state. State officials currently have no comment on the matter.

Tribe seeks $2.1M for road use - Albany Times Union
Senecas bill state for motorists’ use of Thruway section - Buffalo News

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