[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 130 (Monday, July 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 38466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15204]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians Fee-to-Trust 
Acquisition and Casino-Hotel Project, Sonoma County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA), as lead agency, with the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo 
Indians (Tribe) as a cooperating agency, intends to gather information 
necessary for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 
proposed 79 acre fee-to-trust acquisition and casino and 
hotel project to be located within the City of Cloverdale's Sphere of 
Influence, in an unincorporated area of Sonoma County, California. The 
purpose of the proposed action is to help promote tribal economic 
development, self-sufficiency, and a strong tribal government. 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 August 11, 2008. A public scoping meeting will 
be held July 30, 2008, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., or until all those who 
register to make comments have been heard.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments to Dale Morris, 
Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. Please include your 
name, return address and the caption, ``DEIS Scoping Comments, 
Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians, 79 Acre Fee to Trust 
Casino/Hotel Project, Sonoma County, California,'' on the first page of 
your written comments.
    The public scoping meeting will be held at the Cloverdale City 
Citrus Fairgrounds, Citrus Fair Drive, Number 1, Cloverdale, 
California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Rydzik, (916) 978-6051.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe proposes that 79 acres 
of land be taken into trust and that a casino, with parking and other 
supporting facilities, subsequently be constructed on the acquired 
trust property. The 79 acres encompass four parcels of land 
located within the City of Cloverdale's Sphere of Influence, in an 
unincorporated area of Sonoma County, California. The proposed project 
site is located immediately east of Highway 101, bordered by Asti Road 
to the west and Lile Lane to the northeast. Santana Drive runs parallel 
with the southern boundary of the proposed project site. Regional 
access to the proposed casino complex would be from South Cloverdale 
Boulevard via Highway 101.
    The Proposed Action includes the development of a casino complex, 
which would consist of a combination of uses including, but not limited 
to a main gaming hall, hotel, and supporting utilities. Driveways along 
Lile Lane and Asti Road would provide access to the parking areas and 
the casino.
    Areas of environmental concern so far identified to be addressed in 
the EIS include land use, geology and soils, water resources, 
agricultural resources, biological resources, cultural resources, 
mineral resources, paleontological 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 a 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

    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. 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 sections 1501.7 and 
1506.6 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.), 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: May 20, 2008.
Carl J. Artman,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E8-15204 Filed 7-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P