Board dissolves Cowlitz Tribe's casino agreement

Friday, June 22, 2007  

The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board has invalidated a memorandum of understanding between the Cowlitz Tribe and Clark County.

The tribe will abide by the promises in the MOU, council member Phil Harju said. "The tribe’s position is we will comply with the agreement we had with Clark County," he told The Columbia.

But some casino opponents claim the lack of the MOU will affect the federal review process. The draft environmental impact statement for the tribe's $510 million project refers to the impacts the tribe will address in Clark County.

Among other issues, the MOU addresses building and health codes, traffic, law enforcement and compensation for lost property taxes.

Get the Story:
County-Cowlitz pact struck down (The Columbian 6/22)