[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 13014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05573]



[[Page 13014]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[AAK6006201 156A2100DD AOR3B3030.999900]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pokagon 
Band of Potawatomi Indians Fee-to-Trust Transfer for Tribal Village and 
Casino, City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana

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 (BIA), in cooperation with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi 
Indians (Tribe), intends to file a draft environmental impact statement 
(DEIS) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the 
Tribe's application requesting a fee-to-trust transfer of land located 
within the municipal limits of the City of South Bend, Indiana, for the 
construction of a tribal housing, government facilities, and a Class 
III gaming facility. This notice also announces that the DEIS is 
available for public review and that a public hearing will be held to 
receive comments.

DATES: The date of the public meeting will be announced at least 15 
days in advance through a notice in the South Bend Tribune and on the 
following Web site: www.pokagonsouthbendeis.com. Written comments on 
the DEIS must arrive within 45 days after EPA publishes its Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the South Bend Century 
Center, 120 S. St. Joseph Street, South Bend, IN 46601. You may send 
comments to Mr. Scott Doig, Environmental Protection Specialist, 
Midwest Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 5600 West American 
Blvd. Suite 500, Bloomington, MN 55437 or via email to 
[email protected]. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
notice for addresses where the DEIS is available for review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Scott Doig, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, at (612) 725-4514.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Compliance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) and public review of the DEIS are part of the 
administrative process for the evaluation of the Tribe's application 
under the Pokagon Restoration Act, 25 U.S.C. 1300j et seq., and the 
Department's land-into-trust regulations at 25 CFR part 151. Under the 
Council on Environmental Quality National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) regulations (40 CFR 1506.10), the publication of the Notice of 
Availability by the EPA in the Federal Register initiates the 45-day 
public comment period.
    The Tribe has requested that the Secretary of the Interior accept 
in trust status for the benefit of the Tribe certain real property 
consisting of 18 parcels of land totaling 165.81 acres, more or less, 
that are located in within the municipal limits of the City of South 
Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana. The purpose of the proposed action 
is to improve access to essential tribal government services, and 
provide housing, employment opportunities, and economic development for 
the tribal community residing in northern Indiana. The Tribe proposes 
to develop 44 housing units, a multi-purpose facility, health service 
and other tribal government facilities. The Tribe also proposes to 
develop a Class III gaming facility with a hotel, restaurants, meeting 
space, and a parking garage.
    The BIA held a public scoping meeting on September 27, 2012. 
Alternatives considered in the DEIS include: (1) Preferred 
alternative--South Bend tribal housing government facilities and 
casino, (2) Elkhart site with same uses as the preferred alternative, 
(3) South Bend site with government facilities and commercial 
development, and (4) no action. Environmental issues addressed in the 
DEIS include land resources, water resources, air quality, biological 
resources, cultural resources, socioeconomic conditions, resource use, 
public services, noise, hazardous materials, visual resources, 
environmental justice, cumulative effects, indirect effects, 
unavoidable adverse effects, and mitigation.
    Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name, 
return address and the title ``DEIS Comments, Pokagon Tribal project'' 
on the first page of your written comments.
    Locations where the DEIS is Available for Review: The DEIS will be 
available at the South Bend Public Library, main branch-304 S. Main 
St., South Bend, IN 46601, and the Elkhart Public Library main branch-
300 S 2nd St, Elkhart, IN 46516. An electronic version of the DEIS can 
be viewed at the following Web site: www.pokagonsouthbendeis.com.
    If you would like to obtain a compact disc copy of the DEIS, please 
provide your name and address in writing or by voicemail to Scott Doig. 
His contact information is listed in the ADDRESSES 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, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. 
Before including your address, phone 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 can 
ask in your comment that your personal identifying information be 
withheld from public review, BIA cannot guarantee that this will occur.

    Authority:  This notice is published in accordance with section 
1503.1 of the Council of 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.

    Dated: March 3, 2015.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-05573 Filed 3-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-2A-P