[Federal Register: March 6, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 45)]
[Notices]
[Page 12203-12204]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06mr08-92]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Indians Fee-to-Trust Transfer
and Casino Project, Calexico, Imperial 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 National Indian Gaming
Commission, the City of Calexico and the Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay
Indians (Tribe) as cooperating agencies, intends to gather information
necessary for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a
proposed 60.8-acre fee-to-trust transfer and casino project in
Calexico, Imperial County, California. 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 April 7, 2008. The public scoping meeting will
be held March 27, 2008, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., or until all those who
register to make statements have been heard.
ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments to Amy Dutschke,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. Please include
your name, return caption, address and ``DEIS Scoping Comments,
Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Indians, 60.8-acre fee-to-trust Casino
Project, Calexico, California,'' on the first page of your written
comments.
The public scoping meeting will be held at the County of Imperial
Board of Supervisors Chamber Room, 940 West Main Street, Suite 211, El
Centro, California 92243.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Rydzik, (916) 978-6042.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe proposes that 60.8 acres of land
be taken into trust and plans to develop a casino facility on the land.
The property is located at the northernmost gateway to the City of
Calexico, a California/Mexico border city of growing importance in
international trade. The project site is situated at the southwest
quadrant of State Highway 111 and Jasper Road and is bounded on the
south and west by the Central Main and Dogwood Canals. The 60.8-acre
parcel is undeveloped, former agricultural land and is located within
the site of the City of Calexico's proposed 111 Calexico Place
commercial highway development project.
The Tribe proposes to develop a 220,000-square-foot casino facility
on the 60.8-acre parcel. The casino facility would include
approximately 90,000 square feet of gaming space, 120,000 square feet
of food/beverage and retail components and 10,000 square feet of
entertainment venue. In addition, there would be a 50,000-square-foot
banquet/meeting hall and a 260-room hotel. The casino would have 2,000
slot machines and 45 gaming tables. There will be three guest
restaurants and one employee dining room. A swimming pool and a parking
structure containing 3,000 spaces for guests and 400 valet parking
spaces would also be developed within the project area.
The Tribe's application seeks to take a 60.8-acre off-reservation
parcel into trust under Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act and
implementing regulations in 25 CFR part 151, and requests a Secretarial
determination under Section 20(b) (1) (A) of the Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act that a proposed gaming establishment on the parcel would
be in the best interest of the Tribe and its members, and not
detrimental to the surrounding community. The purpose of the proposed
action is to help improve the tribal economy of the Manzanita Band and
assist tribal members to attain economic self-sufficiency. We are aware
that some members of the public have expressed concern about off-
reservation gaming. In this case, the parcel is located approximately
50 miles from the Tribe's reservation. We are soliciting and will
consider accommodating the views of elected officials (State, county,
city, etc.) and community members in the local area as part of our
decision making process. We also plan a more detailed consideration of
the broad implications associated with new gaming operations within
established communities where gaming is not currently conducted.
Areas of environmental concern to be addressed in the EIS include
land resources, water resources, biological resources, cultural
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 the 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
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other
[[Page 12204]]
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, 1506.6
and 1508.22 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.), and 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.l.
Dated: February 15, 2008.
Carl J. Artman,
Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E8-4354 Filed 3-5-08; 8:45 am]
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