[Federal Register: July 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 130)]
[Notices]
[Page 38466]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07jy08-110]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians Fee-to-Trust
Acquisition and Casino-Hotel Project, Sonoma County, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), as lead agency, with the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo
Indians (Tribe) as a cooperating agency, intends to gather information
necessary for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a
proposed 79 acre fee-to-trust acquisition and casino and
hotel project to be located within the City of Cloverdale's Sphere of
Influence, in an unincorporated area of Sonoma County, California. The
purpose of the proposed action is to help promote tribal economic
development, self-sufficiency, and a strong tribal government. This
notice also announces a public scoping meeting to identify potential
issues, concerns and alternatives to be considered in the EIS.
DATES: Written comments on the scope and implementation of this
proposal must arrive by August 11, 2008. A public scoping meeting will
be held July 30, 2008, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., or until all those who
register to make comments have been heard.
ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments to Dale Morris,
Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. Please include your
name, return address and the caption, ``DEIS Scoping Comments,
Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians, 79 Acre Fee to Trust
Casino/Hotel Project, Sonoma County, California,'' on the first page of
your written comments.
The public scoping meeting will be held at the Cloverdale City
Citrus Fairgrounds, Citrus Fair Drive, Number 1, Cloverdale,
California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Rydzik, (916) 978-6051.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe proposes that 79 acres
of land be taken into trust and that a casino, with parking and other
supporting facilities, subsequently be constructed on the acquired
trust property. The 79 acres encompass four parcels of land
located within the City of Cloverdale's Sphere of Influence, in an
unincorporated area of Sonoma County, California. The proposed project
site is located immediately east of Highway 101, bordered by Asti Road
to the west and Lile Lane to the northeast. Santana Drive runs parallel
with the southern boundary of the proposed project site. Regional
access to the proposed casino complex would be from South Cloverdale
Boulevard via Highway 101.
The Proposed Action includes the development of a casino complex,
which would consist of a combination of uses including, but not limited
to a main gaming hall, hotel, and supporting utilities. Driveways along
Lile Lane and Asti Road would provide access to the parking areas and
the casino.
Areas of environmental concern so far identified to be addressed in
the EIS include land use, geology and soils, water resources,
agricultural resources, biological resources, cultural resources,
mineral resources, paleontological resources, traffic and
transportation, noise, air quality, public health/environmental
hazards, public services and utilities, hazardous waste and materials,
socio-economics, environmental justice, and visual resources/
aesthetics. In addition to the proposed action, a reasonable range of
alternatives, including a no-action alternative, will be analyzed in
the EIS. The range of issues and alternatives may be expanded based on
comments received during the scoping process.
Public Comment Availability
Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the mailing address shown in the
ADDRESSES section, during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address,
phone number, e-mail address or other personal identifying information
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly
available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Authority
This notice is published in accordance with sections 1501.7 and
1506.6 of the Council of Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR
parts 1500 through 1508) implementing the procedural requirements of
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C.
4371 et seq.), the Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 1-6), and
is in the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary--
Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.1.
Dated: May 20, 2008.
Carl J. Artman,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E8-15204 Filed 7-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P
