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AUGUST 1, 2000

A 30-day comment period on a casino proposed by three Wisconsin Ojibwe tribes begins today.

Comments on the casino proposal by the Lac Courte Oreilles, Red Cliff, and Mole Lake bands are only limited to environmental aspects. A 1999 agreement between them and the Department of Interior limits comments due to a lawsuit brought against the government.

Comments entered by other tribes and local municipalities about the project are already in the public record. But both groups are still voicing their opposition.

The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association released an environmental study saying the casino would have a negative impact on traffic, noise, and other factors.

The Prairie Island Dakota have filed lawsuit against the Interior and Secretary Bruce Babbitt, citing that the agreeement violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988. The St. Croix Ojibwe were barred from intervening in a recent decision.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs will publish an environmental assessment on the casino online at www.doi.gov/bia/gaming/hudson.htm sometime this week.

Get the Story:
Comment period begins for casino in Hudson (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 8/1)

Get the Decision:
Sokaogon Chippewa Community, et al. v Babbitt, et al. (7th Circuit. No. 00-1137. June 2000)

Related Stories:
Ojibwe leader walks out of casino hearing (Money Matters 07/25)
Tribes fight casino (Money Matters 07/24)
Tribe suing DOI over casino (Tribal Law 7/18)
Casino foes present petition (Money Matters 07/14)
Leaders may support casino (Money Matters 06/21)
Tribe can't interfere with casino (Tribal Law 06/08)
Tribes, city reach agreement (Money Matters 05/31)

Relevant Links:
US District Court of Minnesota - www.mnd.uscourts.gov
The Department of Interior - www.doi.gov
The Bureau of Indian Affairs - www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html