California | Casino Stalker | Federal Register

BIA advances off-reservation casino projects in California

Friday, April 18, 2014

Site in Barstow, California, where Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians wants to build an off-reservation casino. Photo from Barstow Casino and Resort

Two California tribes are finally seeing action on their off-reservation gaming proposals.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs published notice in the Federal Register today of two final environmental impact statements. One is for the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians and the other is for the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians.

Both tribes are seeking to build casinos on land away from existing reservations. The Cloverdale site is only 3 miles from tribal headquarters while the Los Coyotes site is more than 100 miles.

The Cloverdale Rancheria qualifies for an exception in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that applies to tribes that were restored to federal recognition. The tribe was restored in 1983 as part of the Tillie Hardwick litigation.

The tribe received a favorable Indian lands determination from the National Indian Gaming Commission in 2009. The final EIS is available at www.cloverdalerancheria.com/eis/feis.htm.

The Los Coyotes Band is in a different situation. The tribe must receive state and federal approval under the two-part determination provisions of IGRA.

The local community in Barstow supports the project. The final EIS is available at www.loscoyoteseis.com.

The BIA is accepting comments on both statements.

Federal Register Notices:
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians' Proposed 65-Acre Fee-to-Trust Acquisition and Resort Casino Project, Sonoma County, California (April 18, 2014)
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Proposed Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeňo Indians 23-Acre Fee-to-Trust Transfer and Casino-Hotel Project, City of Barstow, San Bernardino County, California (April 18, 2014)