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Enterprise Rancheria wins federal approval to offer Class III games
Monday, August 15, 2016
The Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe of the Enterprise Rancheria held a sunrise groundbreaking ceremony for the Fire Mountain Casino on April 8, 2016. Photo courtesy Enterprise Rancheria
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It looks like the Enterprise Rancheria of
California will be getting its casino project back on track.
The tribe announced a pause in construction of the Fire Mountain Casino due to legal, regulatory and political challenges. But one of those was cleared on Friday when the Bureau of Indian Affairs issued Class III
gaming procedures for the project, The Marysville Appeal-Democrat reported.
"The issuance of secretarial procedures by the department is an important milestone and clears a major hurdle for the development of our Tribe's gaming facility," Chairwoman Glenda Nelson said in a press release quoted by the paper. "The tribe is extremely excited and very appreciative to the department for fulfilling its duty to issue the procedures as required under federal law."
The move marks the third time that the BIA has issued Class III gaming procedures in California. In all three instances, the state was failing to negotiate in "good faith" as required by the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act.
Despite the development, rival tribes are still trying to stop Fire Mountain from moving forward. They are asking Congress to pass H.R.5079,
the California Compact Protection Act to prevent the Enterprise Rancheria from using its 40-acre trust site for Class III games.
The bill was narrowly written to ensure that the gaming rights of the Cachil
Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, also known as the Colusa Indian Community, and the United Auburn Indian
Community, won't be harmed in the future.
Read More on the Story:
Procedures issued for Yuba County casino
(The Marysville Appeal-Democrat 8/15)
After 15 years of delays, Fire Mountain Casino may be close to construction
(The Marysville Appeal-Democrat 8/14)
$P 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)
Related Stories:
Enterprise
Rancheria puts a pause on casino work amid uncertainty (8/11)
Enterprise
Rancheria waits on Bureau of Indian Affairs for Class III gaming procedures
(07/08)
Enterprise
Rancheria awaits action on Class III gaming compact (7/4)
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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)
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Rancheria wins decision in gaming compact lawsuit (2/19)