[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 245 (Monday, December 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 73313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27953]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[222D0102DR/DS5A300000/DR.5A311.IA000118]


Resumption of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Coquille Indian Tribe Fee-to-Trust and Gaming Facility 
Project, Medford, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs has withdrawn the 
Department of the Interior's previous denial of the Coquille Indian 
Tribe's (Tribe) application to transfer land into trust in Medford, 
Oregon. Pursuant to this notice, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 
will resume preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for 
the proposed project.

DATES: On November 19, 2021, the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs 
remanded the Tribe's application to the BIA to complete the 
environmental review process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bryan Mercier, Northwest Regional 
Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest Region, 911 Northeast 
11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4165.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 15, 2015, the BIA published in 
the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the 
Tribe's application for fee-to-trust acquisition of 2.42 acres and a 
gaming facility project in Medford, Oregon. The BIA initiated scoping 
on February 2, 2015. On May 27, 2020, the Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs declined to accept conveyance of the Medford 
Site into trust (2020 Denial). On November 19, 2021, the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs withdrew the 2020 Denial and remanded the 
Tribe's application to the BIA to complete the environmental review 
process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Pursuant to 
this Notice, the BIA will resume preparation of the EIS. The EIS is 
being prepared for the Tribe's application requesting that the United 
States acquire in trust approximately 2.42 acres of land within the 
City of Medford, Jackson County, Oregon. The Tribe is proposing to 
retrofit and remodel an existing bowling alley into a 30,300-square-
foot gaming facility.
    Authority: This notice is published in accordance with sections 
1501.7 and 1506.6 of the Council on 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. 4321-4345 et seq.), and the Department of the 
Interior National Environmental Policy Act Regulations (43 CFR part 
46), and is in the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.

Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-27953 Filed 12-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P