Los Coyotes Band presses BIA for off-reservation casino ruling

Thursday, November 29, 2012  

The Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians in California is still waiting for an answer on its off-reservation casino.

Tribal leaders and officials from the city of Barstow met Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the new leader of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, on November 15, The Desert Dispatch reported. An environmental impact statement for the project has been pending for over a year.

"We’re wading through the process,” Mayor Pro Tem Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre told the paper. “It’s all finished for the final environment documents to come out of the Interior.”

The tribe is proceeding under the two-part determination of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The governor's approval will be required.

The Obama administration has approved two off-reservation casinos for California tribes under the two-part determination. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) agreed to both casinos.

Get the Story:
City officials, American Indian tribe take casino petition to D.C. (The Desert Dispatch 11/29)

City hires lobbyist for Los Coyotes Band off-reservation casino (9/25)