BIA moves forward with Wilton Rancheria casino land-into-trust

Wednesday, December 4, 2013  

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is moving forward with a casino land-into-trust application submitted by the Wilton Rancheria of California.

A notice in today's Federal Register announces the preparation of an environmental impact statement for the project. Plans call for a casino on a 242-acre site in the city of Galt.

A scoping meeting will be held from 6pm-9pm at the Chabolla Community Center in Galt on December 19. Written comments are being accepted until January 6, 2014.

The tribe is working with Boyd Gaming. The deal calls for the company to receive a share of the revenues from the casino.

The Wilton Rancheria's federal recognition was reaffirmed in 2009. Presumably, that makes the tribe eligible for an exception in Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that applies to newly recognized tribes.

Federal Register Notice:
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Wilton Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Sacramento County, California (December 4, 2013)

Editorial: Enough - Put a halt to new tribal casinos in California (04/01)
Wilton Rancheria hopes to rebuild future with gaming facility (03/25)