[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 172 (Thursday, September 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55026-55027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19503]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[201D0102DR/DS5A300000/DR.5A311.IA000118]


Notice of Cancellation of Environmental Impact Statement for 
Proposed Coquille Indian Tribe Fee-To-Trust and Gaming Facility 
Project, City of Medford, Jackson County, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of cancellation.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) announces that it has 
discontinued preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
the Coquille Indian Tribe's (Tribe) application for the proposed 
conveyance of 2.4-acres of land into trust and development of a gaming 
facility in the City of Medford, Jackson County, Oregon. The Proposed 
Action included (1) conveyance of the Medford Site into trust by the 
BIA, and (2) conversion of an existing bowling alley on the Medford 
Site into a gaming facility by the Tribe. On May 27, 2020, the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs declined to accept conveyance of 
the Medford Site into trust. Accordingly, the Department will take no 
Federal action, and there is no longer a need for an EIS.

DATES: Cancellation of this EIS is immediate.

ADDRESSES: Mail all comments, statements, or questions concerning this 
notice to: Mr. Bryan Mercier, Northwest Regional Director, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Northwest Region, 911 Northeast 11th Avenue, Portland, 
Oregon 97232-4165.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacilyn Snyder, BIA Northwest Regional 
Environmental Protection Specialist, at (503) 231-6780.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 15, 2015, the BIA published in 
the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS. The BIA 
initiated scoping on February 2, 2015. On May 27, 2020, the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs declined to accept conveyance of the Medford 
Site into trust pursuant to the Department's regulations at 25 CFR part 
151. Under the Department's regulations, the Secretary must consider 
jurisdictional problems that may arise because of the conveyance. The 
Assistant Secretary determined pursuant to 25 CFR 151.11(b) that the 
Tribe's anticipated benefits do not outweigh potential jurisdictional 
concerns raised by the

[[Page 55027]]

State, county, and municipal governments having regulatory jurisdiction 
over the Medford Site. Accordingly, the Department will take no Federal 
action, and there is no longer a need for an EIS.

Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-19503 Filed 9-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P