[Federal Register: December 14, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 71146-71147]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14de07-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Soboba Band of Luise[ntilde]o Indians' Proposed Trust Acquisition
and Casino/Hotel Project, City of San Jacinto, Riverside 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), in cooperation with the Soboba Band of Luise[ntilde]o
Indians (Tribe), intends to gather information necessary for preparing
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed fee-to-trust
land acquisition and casino and hotel project (Proposed Action) located
within the City of San Jacinto, Riverside County, California. The
purpose of the Proposed Action is to improve the tribal economy in
order to better enable the
[[Page 71147]]
Tribe to provide governmental services, perform governmental functions,
create jobs and career opportunities for tribal members and develop
programs that would assist tribal members to attain economic self-
sufficiency. This notice also announces a public scoping meeting to
identify potential issues, alternatives and content for inclusion in
the EIS.
DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS must arrive by January
22, 2008. The public scoping meeting will be held January 8, 2008, from
6 p.m. to 8 p.m., or until all those who register to make statements
have been heard.
ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments to Ms. Amy
Dutschke, Acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of
Indian Affairs, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825.
The public scoping meeting will be held at the Hemet Public
Library, 2nd floor, 300 E. Latham, Hemet, California 92543.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Rydzik, (916) 978-6042.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe proposes that 289.88
acres of land located within the City of San Jacinto, Riverside County,
California, be acquired into trust for the Tribe. The land is located
in the foothills on the west side of the San Jacinto Mountains that
separate the San Jacinto River Basin to the west from the Coachella
Valley to the east, and adjacent to the San Jacinto River.
Of the 289.88 acres, 35 to 40 acres are proposed for
development. The remaining acreage would remain in its current state,
which consists of an existing golf course (156.36 acres) and
maintenance facility, and on-going club house development. The proposed
new development would consist of a 90,000 square foot
casino facility with 70,000 square foot gaming floor,
various food and beverage establishments, conference space, spa, and
four retail establishments; a 300-room, 224,000 square foot
hotel; a multi-level, 2200 space parking garage; a tribal fire station;
a wastewater treatment plant; and supporting facilities. The new gaming
facility would replace the existing one located on reservation lands.
Access to the site would be via Lake Park Drive and Soboba Road, by
way of a new access point/driveway. The proposed hotel and casino
complex would be generally located at the intersection of Soboba Road
and Lake Park Drive and abut the existing golf course. The proposed
wastewater treatment plant and fire station would be on the southern
side of Lake Park Drive.
The Soboba Band of Luise[ntilde]o Indians is a federally recognized
Indian tribe governed by a tribal council consisting of five members,
under a federally approved constitution. The Tribe currently has a
federally approved tribal-state gaming compact with the State of
California.
Public Comment and Solicitation
Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the BIA address shown in the ADDRESSES
section, during 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 section 1501.7, 1506.6
and 1508.22 of the Council on 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 8.1.
Dated: November 9, 2007.
Carl J. Artman,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E7-24293 Filed 12-13-07; 8:45 am]
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