[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7022-7023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3044]
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NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and
of a Scoping Meeting for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
Casino and Hotel Project, Sonoma County, CA
AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The notice advises the public that the National Indian Gaming
Commission (NIGC), in cooperation with the Federated Indians of Graton
Rancheria and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), intends to gather
information necessary for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for a proposed casino project to be located in Sonoma County,
California. The purpose of the proposed action is to help address the
socio-economic needs of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
Details of the proposed action and location are provided below in the
Supplemental Information section. The scoping process will include
notifying the general public and federal, state, local, and tribal
agencies of the proposed action. This notice also announces a public
scoping meeting that will be held for the proposed action. The purpose
of scoping is to identify public and agency concerns, and alternatives
to be considered in the EIS.
DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should arrive by April
1, 2004. The public hearing will be held on March 10, 2004, from 7 p.m.
to 9 p.m., or until the last public comment is received.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be addressed
to: Christine Nagle, NEPA Coordinator, National Indian Gaming
Commission, 1441 L Street, NW., 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20005,
telephone (202) 632-7003. Please include your name, return address, and
the caption: ``DEIS Scoping Comments, Graton Rancheria Casino
Project'', on the first page of your written comments.
The public hearing will be co-hosted by the NIGC, BIA, and the
Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. The
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meeting location is the: Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Ruth
Finley Person Theater, 50 Mark West Spring Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on NEPA review
procedures or status of the NEPA review, contact Christine Nagle, NIGC
NEPA Coordinator, 202-632-7003.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed federal action is the approval
of a gaming management contract between the Federated Indians of Graton
Rancheria and SC Sonoma Management LLC. The approval of the gaming
management contract would result in the development of a resort hotel,
casino, and supporting facilities. The facility will be managed by SC
Sonoma Management LLC on behalf of the Federated Indians of Graton
Rancheria, pursuant to the terms of a gaming management contract. The
proposed development would take place on up to 450 acres (the project
site) that will be taken into trust on behalf of the Federated Indians
of Graton Rancheria. The project site is located immediately west of
the City of Rohnert Park in Sonoma County, and within one mile of U.S.
Highway 101. Nearby land uses include agricultural uses such as
livestock grazing and dairy operations, rural residential uses, a
mobile home park, industrial and commercial development, and open
space. In addition to the proposed action, a reasonable range of
alternatives, including a no action alternative will be analyzed in the
EIS.
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria consists of approximately
999 members. It is governed by a tribal council, consisting of seven
members, under a constitution that was passed by vote of the members on
December 14, 2002, and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on
December 23, 2002. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria presently
has no land in trust with the U.S. Government and is eligible to
acquire land for reservation purposes to be placed in trust.
The NIGC will serve as lead agency for compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The BIA will be a Cooperating Agency.
Public Comment Solicitation: Written comments pertaining to the
proposed action will be accepted throughout the EIS planning process.
However, to ensure proper consideration in preparation of the draft
EIS, scoping comments should be received by April 1, 2004. The draft
EIS is planned for publication and distribution in the second half of
2004.
Individual commenters may request confidentiality. If you wish us
to withhold your name and/or address from public review or from
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests
will be honored to the extent allowed by law. Anonymous comments will
not, however, be considered. All submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be
made available for public inspection in their entirety.
Authority: This notice is published pursuant to Sec. 1503.1 of
the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR, part 1500
through 1508 implementing the procedural requirements of the NEPA of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.)), and the NIGC NEPA
Procedures Manual.
Dated: February 3, 2004.
Philip N. Hogen,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 04-3044 Filed 2-11-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7545-02-P