A view of the land-into-trust site. Photo from Chumash EA

The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved a controversial land-into-trust application for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California.

The tribe plans to use the 1,400-acre site for housing and other purposes. “We have simply run out of room on our reservation to build homes for our tribal membership,” Chairman Vincent Armenta said in a statement, The Santa Maria Sun reported.

The BIA completed a environmental assessment that consisted of more than 2,300 pages of analysis, comments and review. Local opponents, however, wanted an even more lengthy study of the application.

Officials in Santa Barbara County have already voted to appeal the decision.

Get the Story:
Bureau of Indian Affairs approves fee-to-trust status for Camp 4 (The Santa Maria Sun 1/8)
Feds Approve Chumash Camp 4 Plans (The Santa Barbara Independent 12/31)
BIA approves taking Camp 4 property into federal trust (The Lompoc Record 12/31)

Related Stories:
Editorial: County and critics must stop fighting Chumash Tribe (11/20)
Judge dismisses lawsuit against chairman of Chumash Tribe (11/13)
County to dispute Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust application (11/6)
Chumash Tribe praises BIA movement on land-into-trust bid (10/22)
IBIA dismisses challenge to Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bid (06/09)
Column: Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bill stirs up opposition (05/12)
Rep. Capps opposes Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust measure (03/14)
Opinion: Chumash Tribe too wealthy to follow land-into-trust (02/03)
IBIA dismisses challenges to Chumash Tribe land consolidation (11/05)
Opinion: Far-away lawmaker introduces bill for Chumash Tribe (10/31)
Bill introduced to place 1,400 acres in trust for Chumash Tribe (10/29)
Vincent Armenta: Chumash Tribe strives to be good neighbor (10/24)