A U.S. Department of Interior ruling on an application by the Oneida Indian Nation of New York to place 17,000 acres of tribal land into trust is at least several weeks away, WKTV News in Utica reported last week.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente told the station he was informed of the department's timing on the decision in a telephone call with federal officials.

Picente said the county will continue talks with the Oneida Nation to reach an agreement on their own.

"It's all positive, again there's a difference of opinions on how we get there [and] that's what negotiations are about," he told WKTV.

The Nation originally asked to have 17,000 acres of land in Oneida and Madison counties placed into trust. Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs recommended 13,000 acres, including the tribe's Turning Stone Casino, a government enterprise which generates funds for services to tribal citizens.

Land held in trust by the Federal government is not subject to taxation.

Picente said he realizes compromise means no one is completely satisfied.

"We're not going to be entirely happy," Picente said. "They're not going to be entirely happy, but we need to move on. We need to move this issue beyond what we have been doing and bring some finality or at least some comfort that this cloud doesn't hang over our head again for another 34 years."

--Staff reports