Artist's rendering of proposed off-reservation casino in Fruitport Township, Michigan. Image:Little River Band

Casino Stalker | Federal Register | Meetings

Little River Band takes major step forward with casino bid

Monday, November 26, 2018

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is finally seeing movement on its long-awaited off-reservation casino in Michigan.

The tribe began the land-into-trust process more than three years ago but the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was only issued last week. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is holding a public meeting and is taking comments on the document as the project moves forward.

“This is a long awaited big step for the Little River Band and the Muskegon community to bring economic development to the region as the opportunity to comment on the DEIS is an important public part of the review process,” Larry Romanelli, who serves as the ogema, or leader, of the tribe, said in a press release.

The tribe is pursuing the casino under the two-part determination provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. If the BIA approves, the state governor will have final say on the project.

The public meeting takes place December 12 at the at the Fruitport Middle School auditorium in Fruitport. Written comments are being accepted until January 7.

The tribe already operates the LIttle River Casino Resort in Manistee. The Fruitport site is about 96 miles to the south, just off a major interstate.

A racetrack used to be located at the site. The tribe is seeking to have 60 acres placed in trust for the new casino.

The project is the second off-reservation casino bid to see movement in recent weeks. In Wisconsin, the BIA is holding a public hearing and taking comments for the Ho-Chunk Nation after finally issuing the draft environmental impact statement earlier this month.