City seeks role in review of Coquille Tribe's off-reservation casino

Monday, January 19, 2015

This aerial photo shows the location of the Coquille Tribe's proposed off-reservation casino in Medford, Oregon. The bowling alley, with red awnings, will be converted into a Class II gaming facility. Image from Google Maps

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Officials in the city of Medford, Oregon, want to help review the off-reservation casino being sought by the Coquille Tribe.

The city wants a role in preparing the environmental impact statement for the proposed Class II facility. A letter will be sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the coming weeks, The Medford Mail-Tribune reported.

“I hope they bring in the city of Medford as a partner,” city council member Daniel Bunn told the paper.

Artist's rendering of the Cedars at Bear Creek. Image from Facebook
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The tribe submitted a land-into-trust application to use a 2.4-acre site for the Cedars at Bear Creek. The BIA has announced a scoping meeting on February 3 to help prepare the draft EIS.

Generally, land placed in trust after 1988 can't be used for gaming. The Coquilles, however, are seeking an exception in Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that applies to tribes that were restored to federal recognition.

The tribe gained recognition through the Coquille Restoration Act in 1989. The law requires the BIA to place up to 1,000 acres in trust.

The tribe already operates the Mill Casino, a Class III facility. Medford is about 186 miles away.

Get the Story:
Community has a chance to weigh in on casino Feds will hold pu (The Medford Mail-Tribune 1/17)
Coquille Casino Plans Move Ahead (Jefferson Public Radio 1/16)
B.I.A. Schedules Medford Public Meeting on Proposed Casino (KAJO 1/16) $P Federal Register Notice:
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Coquille Indian Tribe Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, City of Medford, Jackson County, Oregon (January 15, 2015) Related Stories:
BIA moves forward with Coquille Tribe off-reservation casino bid (1/16)