80 FR 13014 - 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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 48 (March 12, 2015)

Page Range		13014-13014
FR Document		2015-05573

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.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 13014]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[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 
Scott.Doig@bia.gov. 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

13014 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 48 / Thursday, March 12, 2015 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S.C. 1300j et seq., and the your name and address in writing or by
Department’s land-into-trust regulations voicemail to Scott Doig. His contact
Bureau of Indian Affairs at 25 CFR part 151. Under the Council information is listed in the ADDRESSES
on Environmental Quality National section of this notice. Individual paper
[AAK6006201 156A2100DD
AOR3B3030.999900]
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) copies of the DEIS will be provided only
regulations (40 CFR 1506.10), the upon payment of applicable printing
Draft Environmental Impact Statement publication of the Notice of Availability expenses by the requestor for the
for the Proposed Pokagon Band of by the EPA in the Federal Register number of copies requested.
Potawatomi Indians Fee-to-Trust initiates the 45-day public comment Public Comment Availability:
Transfer for Tribal Village and Casino, period. Comments, including names and
City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, The Tribe has requested that the addresses of respondents, will be
Indiana Secretary of the Interior accept in trust available for public review at the BIA
status for the benefit of the Tribe certain address shown in the ADDRESSES
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, real property consisting of 18 parcels of section, during regular business hours,
Interior. land totaling 165.81 acres, more or less, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
ACTION: Notice of Availability. that are located in within the municipal Friday, except holidays. Before
limits of the City of South Bend in St. including your address, phone number,
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public Joseph County, Indiana. The purpose of email address, or other personal
that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the proposed action is to improve access identifying information in your
in cooperation with the Pokagon Band to essential tribal government services, comment, you should be aware that
of Potawatomi Indians (Tribe), intends and provide housing, employment your entire comment—including your
to file a draft environmental impact opportunities, and economic personal identifying information—may
statement (DEIS) with the U.S. development for the tribal community be made publicly available at any time.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) residing in northern Indiana. The Tribe While you can ask in your comment that
for the Tribe’s application requesting a proposes to develop 44 housing units, a your personal identifying information
fee-to-trust transfer of land located multi-purpose facility, health service be withheld from public review, BIA
within the municipal limits of the City and other tribal government facilities. cannot guarantee that this will occur.
of South Bend, Indiana, for the The Tribe also proposes to develop a
construction of a tribal housing, Class III gaming facility with a hotel, Authority: This notice is published in
government facilities, and a Class III restaurants, meeting space, and a accordance with section 1503.1 of the
gaming facility. This notice also parking garage. Council of Environmental Quality regulations
announces that the DEIS is available for The BIA held a public scoping (40 CFR 1500 et seq.) and the Department of
public review and that a public hearing meeting on September 27, 2012. the Interior Regulations (43 CFR part 46)
will be held to receive comments. Alternatives considered in the DEIS implementing the procedural requirements of
include: (1) Preferred alternative—South the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and in
DATES: The date of the public meeting
accordance with the exercise of authority
will be announced at least 15 days in Bend tribal housing government
delegated to the Assistant Secretary—Indian
advance through a notice in the South facilities and casino, (2) Elkhart site
Affairs by part 209 of the Department
Bend Tribune and on the following Web with same uses as the preferred
Manual.
site: www.pokagonsouthbendeis.com. alternative, (3) South Bend site with
Written comments on the DEIS must government facilities and commercial Dated: March 3, 2015.
arrive within 45 days after EPA development, and (4) no action. Kevin K. Washburn,
publishes its Notice of Availability in Environmental issues addressed in the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
the Federal Register. DEIS include land resources, water [FR Doc. 2015–05573 Filed 3–11–15; 8:45 am]
resources, air quality, biological
ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be BILLING CODE 4337–2A–P
resources, cultural resources,
held at the South Bend Century Center,
socioeconomic conditions, resource use,
120 S. St. Joseph Street, South Bend, IN
public services, noise, hazardous DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
46601. You may send comments to Mr.
materials, visual resources,
Scott Doig, Environmental Protection
environmental justice, cumulative Bureau of Land Management
Specialist, Midwest Regional Office,
effects, indirect effects, unavoidable
Bureau of Indian Affairs, 5600 West
adverse effects, and mitigation.
American Blvd. Suite 500, Bloomington, [15X.LLAZ956000.L14400000.BJ0000.
Directions for Submitting Comments:
MN 55437 or via email to Scott.Doig@ LXSSA225000.241A]
Please include your name, return
bia.gov. See the SUPPLEMENTARY
address and the title ‘‘DEIS Comments, Notice of filing of plats of survey;
INFORMATION section of this notice for
Pokagon Tribal project’’ on the first page Arizona
addresses where the DEIS is available
of your written comments.
for review.
Locations where the DEIS is Available AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. for Review: The DEIS will be available Interior.
Scott Doig, Environmental Protection at the South Bend Public Library, main
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Specialist, at (612) 725–4514. branch-304 S. Main St., South Bend, IN ACTION: Notice of filing of plats of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 46601, and the Elkhart Public Library survey; Arizona.
Compliance with the National main branch-300 S 2nd St, Elkhart, IN
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 46516. An electronic version of the DEIS SUMMARY: The plats of survey of the
public review of the DEIS are part of the can be viewed at the following Web site: described lands were officially filed in
administrative process for the www.pokagonsouthbendeis.com. the Arizona State Office, Bureau of Land
evaluation of the Tribe’s application If you would like to obtain a compact Management, Phoenix, Arizona, on
under the Pokagon Restoration Act, 25 disc copy of the DEIS, please provide dates indicated.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:23 Mar 11, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\12MRN1.SGM 12MRN1

Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:36:17
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:36:17

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of Availability.
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.
Contact		Mr. Scott Doig, Environmental Protection Specialist, at (612) 725-4514.
FR Citation		80 FR 13014

80 FR 13014 - 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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Indian Affairs

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 48 (March 12, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs