[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68859-68860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27374]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[AAK6006201 134A2100DD AOR3B3030.999900]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Fee-to-
Trust Transfer of Property and Subsequent Development of a Resort/Hotel 
and Ancillary Facilities in the City of Taunton, Massachusetts and 
Tribal Government Facilities in the Town of Mashpee, Massachusetts by 
the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs as lead agency, with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, serving as a 
cooperating agency, intends to file a draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
regarding the Tribe's application for the conveyance into trust of 
title to lands located in Mashpee and Taunton, Massachusetts, for the 
benefit of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. This notice also announces that 
the DEIS is now available for public review and that public hearings 
will be held to receive comments on the DEIS.

DATES: The date of the public hearing will be announced at least 15 
days in advance through notices in the following newspapers: Taunton 
Daily Gazette and the Cape Cod Times, and on the following Web site: 
www.mwteis.com. Written comments on the DEIS must arrive within 45 days 
after the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand-deliver written comments to Mr. 
Franklin Keel, Eastern Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Eastern Region, 545 Marriott Drive,

[[Page 68860]]

Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37214. Public hearings will be held at 
the Taunton High School, 50 William Street, Taunton, Massachusetts, and 
Mashpee High School, 500 Old Barnstable Road, Mashpee, Massachusetts. 
See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for addresses 
where the DEIS is available for review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chet L. McGhee, Regional 
Environmental Scientist, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eastern Regional 
Office, 545 Marriott Drive, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37214; fax 
(615) 564-6571; telephone (615) 564-6500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public review of the DEIS is part of the 
administrative process for the evaluation of the Mashpee Wampanoag 
Tribe's application under section 5 of Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) 
(25 U.S.C. 461, et. seq). Under Council on Environmental Quality 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations (40 CFR 1506.10), 
the publication of the Notice of Availability by Environmental 
Protection Agency in the Federal Register initiates the 45-day public 
comment period.
    The Tribe's proposed development contemplated for the trust lands 
consists of the following components:
    (1) Acquisition in trust of approximately 151 acres in Taunton, 
Massachusetts, and approximately 170 acres in Mashpee in accordance 
with section 5 of the IRA and the procedures set forth in 25 CFR part 
151;
    (2) The Secretary of the Interior's issuance of a reservation 
proclamation under section 7 of the IRA under which the site would be 
the ``initial reservation'' of the Tribe eligible for gaming under 
section 20(b)(1)(B) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act; and
    (3) Development of a resort/hotel and gaming facility within the 
project site in Taunton, Massachusetts, and development of Tribal 
Government facilities within the site area located in Mashpee, 
Massachusetts.
    At full build-out, the Tribe's proposed resort/hotel and gaming 
facility would have approximately132,000 square feet of gaming floor. 
Access to the Taunton site would be via O'Connell Way, off of Stevens 
Street, near the intersection of Stevens Street and Route 140 in 
Taunton, Massachusetts.
    The following alternatives are considered in the DEIS:
    (A) The development as proposed by the Tribe;
    (B) Reduced Intensity I Alternative;
    (C) Reduced Intensity II Alternative; and
    (D) No Action Alternative.
    Environmental issues addressed in the DEIS include: Transportation; 
wetlands and other waters of the U.S.; storm water; geology and soils; 
rare species and wildlife habitat; hazardous materials; water supply; 
wastewater; utilities; solid waste; air quality; greenhouse gas; 
cultural resources; noise, visual impacts; socio-economics; 
environmental justice; cumulative effects and indirect and growth-
inducing effects.
    The BIA held public scoping meetings for the project on June 20, 
2012, at Taunton High School in Taunton, Massachusetts, and on June 21, 
2012, at Mashpee High School in Mashpee, Massachusetts.
    Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name, 
return address, and the caption: ``DEIS comments for proposed fee-to-
trust transfer of lands by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe'' on the first 
page of your written comments.
    Locations Where the DEIS Is Available for Review: The DEIS will be 
available for review at the Taunton Public Library, 12 Pleasant St 
Taunton, Massachusetts 02780; the Mashpee Public Library, 64 Steeple 
Street, Mashpee, Massachusetts 02649; and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe 
Headquarters at 483 Great Neck Rd. South, Mashpee, Massachusetts, 
02649. The DEIS is also available online at: http://www.mwteis.com.
    To obtain a compact disk copy of the DEIS, please provide your name 
and address in writing or by voicemail to Mr. Chet L. McGhee, Regional 
Environmental Scientist, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eastern Regional 
Office. Contact information is listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section of this notice. Individual paper copies of the DEIS 
will be provided only upon payment of applicable printing expenses by 
the requestor for the number of copies requested.
    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 regular business 
hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. 
Before including your address, telephone number, email 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 may 
ask in your comment that your personal identifying information be 
withheld from public review, the BIA cannot guarantee that this will 
occur.

    Authority:  This notice is published in accordance with Sec.  
1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 
1500 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 CFR 
part 46) implementing the procedural requirements of the NEPA (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and in accordance with the exercise of 
authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 
part 209 of the Department Manual.

Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-27374 Filed 11-14-13; 8:45 am]
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