[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6917-6918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02439]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[DR.5B711.IA000814]


Land Acquisitions; Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria of 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Final Agency Determination.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs made a final agency 
determination to acquire approximately 626.55 acres of land in trust 
for the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria of California for 
gaming and other purposes on January 24, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula L. Hart, Director, Office of 
Indian Gaming, Bureau of Indian Affairs, MS-3657 MIB, 1849 C Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202) 219-4066.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published in the exercise of 
authority delegated by the Secretary of the Interior to the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 Departmental Manual 8.1, and is 
published to comply with the requirements of 25 CFR 151.12(c)(2)(ii) 
that notice of the decision to acquire land in trust be promptly 
provided in the Federal Register.
    On March 14, 2008, the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs first 
approved the trust acquisition of 626.55 acres of land in trust for the 
Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria of California. Notice of that 
decision was published in the Federal Register on May 8, 2008. 73 FR 
26142. The 2008 decision was challenged in the United States District 
Court for the District of Columbia by Butte County, California, and was 
ultimately remanded to the Department for reconsideration. On January 
24, 2014, the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs issued a new decision 
to accept approximately 626.55 acres of land into trust for the 
Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria of California under the 
authority of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, 25 U.S.C. 465. We 
have determined that the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria of 
California's request meets the requirements of the Indian Gaming 
Regulatory Act's ``restored lands'' exception, 25 U.S.C. 
2719(b)(1)(B)(iii), to the general prohibition contained in 25 U.S.C. 
2719(a) on gaming on lands acquired in trust after October 17, 1988.
    The 626.55 acres are located in Butte County, California, and are 
described as follows:

Parcel I

    All that portion of the east half of the northeast quarter of 
Section 1, Township 20 North, Range 2 East, M.D.B. & M., lying easterly 
of U.S. Highway 99E.
    Excepting therefrom that portion thereof, heretofore conveyed to 
the State of California by deed recorded July 27, 1951, in Book 575, 
Page 326, Official Records, recorded October 9, 1974, in Book 1944, 
Page 64, Official Records and October 9, 1974, in Book 1944, Page 68, 
Official Records and Parcel 1 of the Grant Deed recorded January 15, 
2004,

[[Page 6918]]

under Butte County Recorder's Serial No. 2004-0002294. APN 041-190-048 
(formerly 038-150-026).

Parcel II

    The north half of the northwest quarter, the southwest quarter of 
the northwest quarter and the northwest quarter of the southwest 
quarter of Section 5, and all that portion of Section 6 lying 
northeasterly of the Oroville Chico Highway, all in Township 20 North, 
Range 3 East, M.D.B. & M.
    Excepting therefrom said Section 6, that portion conveyed to the 
State of California by Deeds recorded February 8, 1951 in Book 555, 
Page 329, Official Records, and July 27, 1951, in Book 575, Page 326, 
Official Records.
    Also excepting therefrom that portion conveyed to the State of 
California by Deed recorded October 9, 1974, in Book 1944, Page 64, 
Official Records and Parcel 1 of Grant Deed recorded January 15, 2004, 
under Butte County Recorder's Serial No. 2004-002294. APN 041-190-045 
(formerly 041-190-020).
    A copy of the decision dated January 24, 2014 is available at: 
http://www.indianaffairs.gov/cs/groups/webteam/documents/text/idc1-025066.pdf.

    Dated: January 30, 2014.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-02439 Filed 2-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4N-P