[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 240 (Friday, December 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71146-71147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24293]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Soboba Band of Luise[ntilde]o Indians' Proposed Trust Acquisition 
and Casino/Hotel Project, City of San Jacinto, Riverside 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), in cooperation with the Soboba Band of Luise[ntilde]o 
Indians (Tribe), intends to gather information necessary for preparing 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed fee-to-trust 
land acquisition and casino and hotel project (Proposed Action) located 
within the City of San Jacinto, Riverside County, California. The 
purpose of the Proposed Action is to improve the tribal economy in 
order to better enable the

[[Page 71147]]

Tribe to provide governmental services, perform governmental functions, 
create jobs and career opportunities for tribal members and develop 
programs that would assist tribal members to attain economic self-
sufficiency. This notice also announces a public scoping meeting to 
identify potential issues, alternatives and content for inclusion in 
the EIS.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS must arrive by January 
22, 2008. The public scoping meeting will be held January 8, 2008, from 
6 p.m. to 8 p.m., or until all those who register to make statements 
have been heard.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments to Ms. Amy 
Dutschke, Acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825.
    The public scoping meeting will be held at the Hemet Public 
Library, 2nd floor, 300 E. Latham, Hemet, California 92543.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Rydzik, (916) 978-6042.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe proposes that 289.88 
acres of land located within the City of San Jacinto, Riverside County, 
California, be acquired into trust for the Tribe. The land is located 
in the foothills on the west side of the San Jacinto Mountains that 
separate the San Jacinto River Basin to the west from the Coachella 
Valley to the east, and adjacent to the San Jacinto River.
    Of the 289.88 acres, 35 to 40 acres are proposed for 
development. The remaining acreage would remain in its current state, 
which consists of an existing golf course (156.36 acres) and 
maintenance facility, and on-going club house development. The proposed 
new development would consist of a 90,000 square foot 
casino facility with 70,000 square foot gaming floor, 
various food and beverage establishments, conference space, spa, and 
four retail establishments; a 300-room, 224,000 square foot 
hotel; a multi-level, 2200 space parking garage; a tribal fire station; 
a wastewater treatment plant; and supporting facilities. The new gaming 
facility would replace the existing one located on reservation lands.
    Access to the site would be via Lake Park Drive and Soboba Road, by 
way of a new access point/driveway. The proposed hotel and casino 
complex would be generally located at the intersection of Soboba Road 
and Lake Park Drive and abut the existing golf course. The proposed 
wastewater treatment plant and fire station would be on the southern 
side of Lake Park Drive.
    The Soboba Band of Luise[ntilde]o Indians is a federally recognized 
Indian tribe governed by a tribal council consisting of five members, 
under a federally approved constitution. The Tribe currently has a 
federally approved tribal-state gaming compact with the State of 
California.

Public Comment and Solicitation

    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. Before including your address, phone number, 
e-mail address or other personal identifying information in your 
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

Authority

    This notice is published in accordance with section 1501.7, 1506.6 
and 1508.22 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. 
4371 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 8.1.

    Dated: November 9, 2007.
Carl J. Artman,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E7-24293 Filed 12-13-07; 8:45 am]
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