Seminole chief: No new oil, gas tax within tribal boundaries

WEWOKA, Okla. (AP) — The chief of the Seminole Nation says the tribe has no current plans to tax oil and gas production on all land within its traditional reservation boundaries. Chief Greg Chilcoat said on Wednesday that the tribe has the authority to levy oil and gas production taxes on non-tribal producers operating wells on tribal trust and restricted lands, which has been existing policy.

The statement was welcome news to Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, who had asked the tribe in December to clarify its position. Hunter’s move came after letters demanding payment of Seminole Nation taxes were sent to all oil and gas producers operating in the area.