Jamul Indian Village still waiting for decision on gaming contract

Monday, March 14, 2016

An undated aerial view of the Jamul Indian Village in California, where a $390 million casino is due to open this July. Image from Google Maps

The Jamul Indian Village of California plans to open a $390 million casino in July but the tribe is still waiting for approval of its gaming management contract.

The tribe wants Penn National Gaming to manage the Hollywood Casino Jamul for seven years. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires the National Indian Gaming Commission to review the agreement and the agency just published a new draft supplemental environmental impact statement as part of the process.

According to a notice published in the Federal Register, the lack of a decision won't hinder the opening of the casino or affect its operation. Even if the NIGC rejects the agreement, the tribe "would assume operation and management responsibilities of the Jamul Gaming Facility," the agency states.

Indianz.Com SoundCloud: 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Oral Arguments in Jamul Action Committee v. Jonodev Chaudhuri

But an opposition group called the Jamul Action Committee has been trying to stop the casino by drawing the NIGC into the dispute due to the pending decision on the management contract. A federal judge dismissed the case but the group took the matter to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Oral arguments were heard in December 2015 but a decision hasn't been issued. Turtle Talk has posted briefs from the case, Jamul Action Committee v. Chaudhuri. Additional documents are available from the Government Printing Office.

The NIGC is accepting comments on the draft supplemental environmental impact statement until April 28. Links to the document can be found below.

Relevant Documents [Note: Very large files]:
Volume 1 - Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Main Document) [230.9 MB]
Volume II - Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Appendices) [139.9 MB]

Federal Register Notice:
Notice of Availability of a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Jamul Indian Village Proposed Gaming Management Agreement, San Diego County, California (March 14, 2016)