[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

[[Page 7023]]

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