Rendering of the proposed Enterprise Rancheria casino. Image from Enterprise Rancheria
The Enterprise Rancheria of California is still waiting for state lawmakers to approve its Class III gaming compact. The tribe plans to build a casino in Yuba County, at a site about 32 miles from headquarters. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Gov. Jerry Brown (D) approved the project under the two-part determination provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Despite clearing those hurdles in September 2011 and September 2012, the project remains in limbo due to opposition from tribes with existing casinos. No local lawmaker agreed to sponsor a bill to ratify the compact so AB 1098 was introduced by someone from outside the area. "We are a small tribe in a small county," spokesperson Charles Altekruse told The Marysville/Yuba City Appeal-Democrat. "Getting attention in Sacramento is a problem." The bill has yet to receive a hearing and it's not likely it will be considered before legislative break in August, the paper said. But even if it's approved, the tribe will have to wait for the BIA to sign off -- IGRA imposes a 45-day review period for Class III gaming compacts. "All the tribe is asking for is 'this is our land — let us use it to take care of our people,'" Altekruse told the paper. The BIA placed the casino site in trust in December 2012. Get the Story:
South Yuba County casino has its hurdles (The Marysville/Yuba City Appeal-Democrat 6/30) Federal Register Notice:
Land Acquisitions; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California (December 3, 2012) Related Stories:
Bill introduced to ratify Enterprise Rancheria gaming compact (06/02)
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