[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 45 (Thursday, March 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12203-12204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4354]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Indians Fee-to-Trust Transfer 
and Casino Project, Calexico, Imperial 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), as lead agency, with the National Indian Gaming 
Commission, the City of Calexico and the Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay 
Indians (Tribe) as cooperating agencies, intends to gather information 
necessary for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 
proposed 60.8-acre fee-to-trust transfer and casino project in 
Calexico, Imperial County, California. This notice also announces a 
public scoping meeting to identify potential issues, concerns and 
alternatives to be considered in the EIS.

DATES: Written comments on the scope and implementation of this 
proposal must arrive by April 7, 2008. The public scoping meeting will 
be held March 27, 2008, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., or until all those who 
register to make statements have been heard.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments to Amy Dutschke, 
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. Please include 
your name, return caption, address and ``DEIS Scoping Comments, 
Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Indians, 60.8-acre fee-to-trust Casino 
Project, Calexico, California,'' on the first page of your written 
comments.
    The public scoping meeting will be held at the County of Imperial 
Board of Supervisors Chamber Room, 940 West Main Street, Suite 211, El 
Centro, California 92243.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe proposes that 60.8 acres of land 
be taken into trust and plans to develop a casino facility on the land. 
The property is located at the northernmost gateway to the City of 
Calexico, a California/Mexico border city of growing importance in 
international trade. The project site is situated at the southwest 
quadrant of State Highway 111 and Jasper Road and is bounded on the 
south and west by the Central Main and Dogwood Canals. The 60.8-acre 
parcel is undeveloped, former agricultural land and is located within 
the site of the City of Calexico's proposed 111 Calexico Place 
commercial highway development project.
    The Tribe proposes to develop a 220,000-square-foot casino facility 
on the 60.8-acre parcel. The casino facility would include 
approximately 90,000 square feet of gaming space, 120,000 square feet 
of food/beverage and retail components and 10,000 square feet of 
entertainment venue. In addition, there would be a 50,000-square-foot 
banquet/meeting hall and a 260-room hotel. The casino would have 2,000 
slot machines and 45 gaming tables. There will be three guest 
restaurants and one employee dining room. A swimming pool and a parking 
structure containing 3,000 spaces for guests and 400 valet parking 
spaces would also be developed within the project area.
    The Tribe's application seeks to take a 60.8-acre off-reservation 
parcel into trust under Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act and 
implementing regulations in 25 CFR part 151, and requests a Secretarial 
determination under Section 20(b) (1) (A) of the Indian Gaming 
Regulatory Act that a proposed gaming establishment on the parcel would 
be in the best interest of the Tribe and its members, and not 
detrimental to the surrounding community. The purpose of the proposed 
action is to help improve the tribal economy of the Manzanita Band and 
assist tribal members to attain economic self-sufficiency. We are aware 
that some members of the public have expressed concern about off-
reservation gaming. In this case, the parcel is located approximately 
50 miles from the Tribe's reservation. We are soliciting and will 
consider accommodating the views of elected officials (State, county, 
city, etc.) and community members in the local area as part of our 
decision making process. We also plan a more detailed consideration of 
the broad implications associated with new gaming operations within 
established communities where gaming is not currently conducted.
    Areas of environmental concern to be addressed in the EIS include 
land resources, water resources, biological resources, cultural 
resources, traffic and transportation, noise, air quality, public 
health/environmental hazards, public services and utilities, hazardous 
waste and materials, socio-economics, environmental justice and visual 
resources/aesthetics. In addition to the proposed action, a reasonable 
range of alternatives, including the no-action alternative will be 
analyzed in the EIS. The range of issues and alternatives may be 
expanded based on comments received during the scoping process.

Public Comment Availability

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other

[[Page 12204]]

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 sections 1501.7, 1506.6 
and 1508.22 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.), 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.l.

    Dated: February 15, 2008.
Carl J. Artman,
Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E8-4354 Filed 3-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P