Artist's rendering of the Fire Mountain Casino. Image from Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe of the Enterprise Rancheria
The Enterprise Rancheria of California is getting closer to a Class III gaming compact. A federal judge ruled that the state failed to negotiate an agreement "good faith" as required by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. A mediator has since chosen the tribe's version of a proposed compact. If the state does not consent to the compact by Tuesday the mediator will forward the agreement to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, according to a filing in federal court. The agency will then decide whether to issue Class III gaming procedures for the tribe. "Nothing official to report yet but hope we have something in the near future," tribal spokesperson Charles Altekruse told The Marysville Appeal-Democrat. If the state does not consent and the BIA takes action, the Enterprise Rancheria would be one of the first in California with Class III gaming procedures. But rival tribes are asking Congress to pass H.R.5079, the California Compact Protection Act, in hopes of thwarting the effort. The bill has not received a hearing and has drawn considerable scrutiny in Indian legal and political circles. The provisions were written narrowly in order to single out the Enterprise Rancheria while ensuring that tribes with existing compacts won't be harmed when they return to the negotiating table. The Enterprise Rancheria broke ground on the Fire Mountain Casino in April. The 140,000 square-foot facility is located on a 40-acre site that the Bureau of Indian Affairs placed in trust in December 2012. The casino is due to open in April or May of 2017. Get the Story:
Casino compact deadline moved to Tuesday (The Marysville Appeal-Democrat 7/2) Tribal Leader Opinions on H.R.5079, the California Compact Protection Act:
Maryann McGovran: Don't be fooled by efforts of 'wealthy' tribes (5/13)
Claudia Gonzales: Off-reservation gaming fuels attacks on tribes (5/13) Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet | Two-Part Determination Letter Federal Register Notice:
Land Acquisitions; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California (December 3, 2012)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Enterprise
Rancheria on track to debut gaming facility next year (06/03) Bryan Newland: Bill grants states a veto over tribal gaming rights (05/16)
Steve Stallings: Compact process respects tribal and state rights (5/16)
Maryann McGovran: Don't be fooled by efforts of 'wealthy' tribes (5/13)
Claudia Gonzales: Off-reservation gaming fuels attacks on tribes (5/13)
Bill blocks Class III gaming at two specific off-reservation casinos (5/6)
New bill takes aim at casinos opposed by rival tribes in California (5/2)
Enterprise Rancheria shares $811K as casino work finally begins (04/11)
Enterprise Rancheria looking to expand gaming facility in phases (4/8)
Enterprise Rancheria set to start work on $170M Class II facility (4/7)
Bureau of Indian Affairs still moves slowly on casino applications (04/01)
Enterprise Rancheria plans to move forward with compact talks (02/24)
Enterprise Rancheria wins decision in gaming compact lawsuit (2/19)
