NEW TOWN, N.D. (AP) _ North Dakota's Three Affiliated Tribes will be getting control of land for construction of a proposed new oil refinery.
The tribe wants to use 469 acres of land near Makoti to build the refinery and produce feed for the tribe's buffalo herd. The land is in western North Dakota, in the northeast part of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
Tribal officials asked the U.S. Interior Department to put the land into trust. That would give the tribe control of the property.
U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Wednesday the application has been approved. It now has to undergo more review.
Salazar made the announcement Wednesday at the tribe's headquarters at New Town.
The proposed refinery would process about 13,000 barrels of oil a day for diesel fuel, propane and naptha.
