[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 147 (Monday, July 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46730-46731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19275]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


St. Croix Meadows Racing Park, Draft Environmental Assessment; 
Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior (DOI) announces the 
availability for public review and comment the draft environmental 
assessment (EA) for the proposed acquisition of the St. Croix Meadows 
Racing Park in trust for the Sokaogon Chippewa Community of Wisconsin, 
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Red Cliff Band 
of Lake Superior Chippewa (Tribes), located in Hudson, St. Croix 
County, Wisconsin.

DATES: DOI invites all interested parties to submit comments on the 
draft EA during a comment period ending August 30, 2000. Written 
comments must be postmarked by August 30, 2000 to ensure consideration. 
Comments postmarked after that date will be considered to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the draft EA should be directed to: 
Nancy Pierskalla, Office of Indian Gaming Management, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, 1849 C Street NW, MS 2070 MIB, Washington, DC 20240; by 
telefax at (202) 273-3153, or via the Internet: 
[email protected]. The draft EA is available electronically 
through the Internet at www.doi.gov/bia/gaming/hudson.htm. Copies of 
the draft EA are also available for review at the Hudson Public 
Library, 911 4th Street, Hudson, Wisconsin 54016, the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Midwest Regional Office, One Federal Drive, Room 550, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota 55111, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great 
Lakes Agency, 615 West Main, Ashland, Wisconsin 54806.
    If you prefer to send your comments through the Internet, use the 
following address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Pierskalla, Office of Indian 
Gaming Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street NW, MS 2070 
MIB, Washington, DC 20240; by telephone at (202) 219-4066; or by 
telefax at (202) 273-3153.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By letter dated March 23, 2000, Roger 
McGeshick, Jr, Chairman, Sokaogon Chippewa Community of Wisconsin, 
gaiashkibos, Chairman, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, and Jean Buffalo-Reyes, Chairwoman, Red

[[Page 46731]]

Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin (collectively 
referred to as the Tribes), submitted to the Assistant Secretary--
Indian Affairs (AS-IA), the Tribes application for a two-part 
Secretarial determination that a gaming establishment on a 55.82 acre 
parcel of land to be acquired in trust for the benefit of the Tribes in 
Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, is in the best interest of the 
Tribe and its members, and not detrimental to the surrounding 
community, in accordance with Section 20(b)(1)(A) of the Indian Gaming 
Regulatory Act (IGRA), 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2719(b)(1)(A).
    The Tribes intend to use the Hudson Property for Class III gaming 
purposes. The main building of the St. Croix Meadows Racing Facility 
consists of a two story grandstand with a mezzanine level. The 
grandstand has two full floors, an intermediate mezzanine and a small 
rooftop booth area. The enclosed area of the grandstand is 
approximately 160,000 square feet. The ground floor area is 64,000 
square feet, the mezzanine area is 32,000 square feet, the upper 
``grandstand'' floor is 62,000 square feet, and a booth area of 2,600 
square feet is at the roof level. A transitional plan has been 
developed for the retrofitting of the facility. The first phase will 
include the opening of the temporary casino in the clubhouse area on 
the second floor. The temporary facility will contain approximately 
1,000 gaming machines and 15 table games. Pari-mutual areas will be 
maintained in the terrace areas adjacent to the structural glass wall 
overlooking the racetrack. There are existing food and beverage and 
lounge areas on this floor which will service both the temporary casino 
and pari-mutual operations.
    The second phase of the operation is the development of the 
permanent casino which is expected to utilize approximately 50,000 
square feet of the ground floor and contain 1,500 gaming machines and 
30 table games. After the permanent casino is operating, the third 
floor temporary casino will be closed and converted into an upscale 
dining area and an extensive buffet restaurant area. Pari-mutual 
wagering will be offered along the glass on both the first and third 
floor gaming areas and in the sports bar area on the first floor.
    The Bureau has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the 
National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq., to evaluate 
the potential impacts of the trust acquisition and to assist it in 
determining whether an environmental impact statement is required for 
the proposed acquisition. In the EA, the BIA analyzes the impacts of 
the proposed acquisition and the no action alternative (not acquiring 
the property in trust). Under the Settlement Agreement in Paragraph 10 
in the case Sokaogon Chippewa Community, et al., v. Babbitt. et al., 
Case No. 95-C-0659-C, the BIA is releasing the draft EA for a thirty-
day public comment period. Comments will be accepted at the address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

    Dated: July 25, 2000.
Nancy Jemison,
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 00-19275 Filed 7-28-00; 8:45 am]
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