[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 225 (Friday, November 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65732-65733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29088]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Elk Valley Rancheria 203.5 Acre Fee-to-Trust Transfer and 
Casino/Resort Project, Del Norte 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), with the cooperation of the Elk Valley Rancheria, 
intends to gather information necessary for preparing an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 203.50 acre Fee-to-Trust 
Transfer and Casino Project in Del Norte County, California. The 
purpose of the proposed action is to help meet the land base and 
economic needs of the Elk Valley Rancheria. This notice also announces 
a public scoping meeting to identify potential issues, topics and 
alternatives for consideration in the EIS.

DATES: Written comments must arrive by December 30, 2003. The public 
scoping meeting will be held on December 15, 2003, from 5 p.m. to 8 
p.m., or until the last public comment is received.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments on the scope of 
the EIS to Clay Gregory, Acting Regional Director, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2820, Sacramento, 
California 95825.

[[Page 65733]]

Please include your name, return address and the caption, ``DEIS 
Scoping Comments, Elk Valley Rancheria, Martin Ranch, Fee to Trust 
Casino Project 203.50 Acre Fee-to-Trust Casino Project, Del Norte 
County, California,'' on the first page of your written comments.
    The public scoping meeting will be held at the Elk Valley Tribal 
Center, 2332 Howland Hill Road, Crescent City, California 95531.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Allan, (916) 978-6043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Elk Valley Rancheria is located just 
east of Crescent City, California, on Howland Hill Road. The project 
area, known locally as the Martin Ranch, is located southeast of 
Crescent City, adjacent to Highway 101 and Humboldt Road.
    The Elk Valley Rancheria proposes that 203.50 acres of land that is 
currently owned by the tribe in fee title be taken into federal trust, 
and that the site be developed for recreation/tourism by constructing a 
golf course, hotel, conference facilities and casino for the benefit of 
the tribe and the local community. The project site is currently 
undeveloped, with the exception of a single-family residence and its 
associated barn and outbuildings. The BIA will serve as the lead agency 
for National Environmental Policy Act compliance.

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. Individual respondents 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. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. 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 in accordance with section 1503.1 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. 4321 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.

    Dated: November 12, 2003.
Aurene M. Martin,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-29088 Filed 11-20-03; 8:45 am]
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