Map shows land consolidation area for Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, including proposed trust land acquisition. Image from Camp 4 Fee-to-Trust Environmental Assessment
Newspaper calls on Bureau of Indian Affairs to extend comment period on land-into-trust application for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians:
The fee-to-trust process requires an assessment of the environmental impacts such a change in land use would entail. And that's all in the 930-page report we mentioned earlier. The feds had set a deadline of Sept. 19 for accepting public comment on the environmental report, but that deadline was challenged by Preservation of Los Olivos (POLO), a Valley group that has, in general, opposed tribal reservation annexations. POLO is asking members and supporters to lobby the BIA for a 60-day review/comment period extension. That's the very least the feds should do. Anyone and everyone with even a passing interest in what happens in this part of Santa Barbara County should have more time to study the federal report, and then be able to comment on its various aspects.Get the Story:
Editorial: Valley needs more time on Camp 4 (The Santa Ynez Valley News 9/12) Related Stories:
County challenges Chumash Tribe's land consolidation plan (9/11)
Letter: Take poll on Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust application (9/6)
BIA taking public comments for Chumash Tribe land-into-trust (9/5)
Editorial: Negotiate land-into-trust deal with Chumash Tribe (08/26)
Vincent Armenta: Facts on Chumash Tribe's land application (8/22)
Editorial: Middle ground with Chumash Tribe remains elusive (8/22)
County won't start land-into-trust talks with Chumash Tribe (8/21)
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