The site where the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California wants to build a casino is up for auction as part of a bankruptcy case.
The tribe entered into a contract with Station Casinos for the casino. The company has been ordered to sell the site to pay off creditors.
The new owner may or may not want to pursue a casino. But tribal attorney John Maier told The Fresno Bee that the sale will have "minimal impact" on the $350 million project.
The site is in Madera, about 35 miles away from the reservation. The tribe is seeking a two-part determination under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which requires the state governor's approval, for the casino.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs
issued a draft environmental
impact statement for the project. But there appears to have been little
movement from the federal government in over a year.
Get the Story:Casino project near Madera faces setback (The Fresno Bee 6/16) Related Stories:
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North Fork Rancheria paid for politician's trip to DC (9/2)
North Fork Chair: Casino will boost economy (12/15)
Editorial: Reconsider North Fork casino location (12/2)
North Fork Rancheria awaits casino financing (12/1)
Opinion: No reservation shopping in California (7/21)
Editorial: North Fork Band reservation shopping (7/7)
BIA changes course on North Fork casino bid (7/2)
