[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9963-9964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4028]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Pueblo of Jemez's Proposed Trust Acquisition and Casino Project, 
Dona Ana County, NM

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 Pueblo of Jemez (Pueblo), 
intends to gather information necessary for preparing an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed 78.431 acre trust acquisition and 
casino project to be located within Dona Ana County, New Mexico. The 
purpose of the proposed action is to improve the economy of the Pueblo 
and help its members attain economic self-sufficiency. This notice also 
announces a public scoping meeting to identify potential issues and 
alternatives to be considered in the EIS.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS or implementation of 
the proposal must arrive by April 18, 2005. The public scoping meeting 
will be held March 16, 2005, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., or until the last 
public comment is received.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments to Mr. Larry 
Morrin, Regional Director, Southwest Regional Office, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, P.O. Box 26567, Albuquerque, NM 87125. Please include your 
name, return address, and the caption, ``DEIS Scoping Comments, Pueblo 
of Jemez Trust Acquisition and Casino Project,'' on the first page of 
your written comments.
    The location of the public scoping meeting is the VFW Hall, 
Anthony, New Mexico.

[[Page 9964]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dawn Selwyn, (505) 563-3106.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pueblo proposes that 78.431 acres of 
land be taken into trust so that the Pueblo may use the property for 
the development of gaming and related entertainment facilities. The 
78.431 acres proposed for trust acquisition are part of a 111.7 acre 
tract located on the southwest corner of Interstate 10 and New Mexico 
State Road 404 (O'Hara Road) in Dona Ana County, New Mexico.
    Although the eventual size and scope of the facilities may be 
altered based on information obtained through the EIS process, the 
Pueblo's current proposal is to build and then operate for 2 years a 
24,000 square foot temporary casino on acquired trust land, while 
building a permanent gaming facility. The permanent facility, also on 
acquired trust land, would have a 48,000 square feet gaming floor and 
would be connected to an 80 to 100 room hotel located on adjacent, non-
trust land. The temporary casino would have asphalt parking for 500 
vehicles that would be retained after operations begin in the permanent 
casino. Approximately 260 additional asphalt parking spaces, including 
spaces for oversized vehicles, will be added at the time the permanent 
casino begins operations.
    The proposed action encompasses the various federal approvals 
required to implement the Pueblo's fee-to-trust application.
    Areas of environmental concern identified so far for analysis in 
the EIS include land resources, water resources, air quality, 
biological resources, cultural resources, socioeconomic conditions, 
traffic and transportation, land use, public utilities and services, 
noise, lighting, hazardous materials, environmental justice, and visual 
resources/aesthetics. The range of issues and alternatives to be 
addressed in the EIS may be expanded based on comments received in 
response to this notice and at the public scoping meeting.

Public Comment Availability

    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. 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 the 
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 of 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.), Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 1-6), and 
is in the exercise of authority delegated to the Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.l.

    Dated: February 23, 2005.
Michael D. Olsen,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-4028 Filed 2-28-05; 8:45 am]
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