81 FR 511 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's Proposed Trust Acquisition and Gaming Facility Project, DeKalb County, Illinois

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 3 (January 6, 2016)

Page Range		511-512
FR Document		2015-33247

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (Nation) as cooperating agency, intend to gather information necessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in connection with the Nation's application for the proposed acquisition in trust by the United States of approximately 129 acres for construction and operation of a gaming facility in DeKalb County, Illinois. This notice also opens public scoping to identify potential issues, concerns and alternatives to be considered in the EIS.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 511-512]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33247]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[167 A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's Proposed Trust Acquisition and 
Gaming Facility Project, DeKalb County, Illinois

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation 
(Nation) as cooperating agency, intend to gather information necessary 
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in connection with 
the Nation's application for the proposed acquisition in trust by the 
United States of approximately 129 acres for construction and operation 
of a gaming facility in DeKalb County, Illinois. This notice also opens 
public scoping to identify potential issues, concerns and alternatives 
to be considered in the EIS.

DATES: The date and location of the public meeting will be announced at 
least 15 days in advance through a notice in the Daily Chronicle and 
the Midweek and on the following Web site: www.prairiebandeis.com. 
Written comments on the DEIS must arrive within 45 days after EPA 
publishes its Notice of Availability.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand-deliver written comments to Diane 
Rosen, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Region, 
Norman Pointe II Building, 5600 W. American Blvd., Suite 500, 
Bloomington, Minnesota 55437. Please include your name, return address, 
and ``NOI Comments, Prairie Band Project'' on the first page of your 
written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Doig, Acting Regional 
Environmental Scientist, at the address above, or at telephone (612) 
725-4514, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Nation submitted a request to the 
Department of the Interior for the placement of approximately 129 acres 
of fee land in trust by the United States upon which the Nation would 
construct a class II gaming facility. The property is located in DeKalb 
County just southeast of the town of Shabbona, IL. The gaming facility 
would consist of a class II gaming area, restaurants and lounges, a 
multi-purpose room that could be used for entertainment, meetings, and 
other purposes, and surface parking for cars and buses. The property is 
comprised of two parcels: an approximately 128-acre parcel currently 
used for farming (Parcel ID Index 13-23-200-001), on which the gaming 
facility would be built, and a 30,020 square foot parcel on which a 
house sits (Parcel ID Index 13-23-128-002). The purpose of the proposed 
action is to acquire land in trust that was historically reserved for 
Chief Shab-eh-nay and his Band of Potawatomis by treaty, and to 
facilitate economic development so that the Tribal government can 
better provide housing, health care, education, cultural

[[Page 512]]

programs, and other services to its members.
    The proposed action encompasses the various Federal approvals which 
may be required to implement the Tribe's proposed economic development 
project, including approval of the Nation's fee-to-trust application. 
The EIS will identify and evaluate issues related to these approvals, 
and will also evaluate a range of reasonable alternatives, including a 
no action alternative. Other possible alternatives currently under 
consideration are a reduced-intensity gaming facility alternative, an 
alternate-use (non-gaming) alternative and an off-site alternative. The 
range of issues and alternatives may be revised based on comments 
received during the scoping process.
    Areas of environmental concern preliminarily identified for 
analysis in the EIS include land resources; water resources; air 
quality; noise; biological resources; cultural/historical/
archaeological resources; resource use patterns; traffic and 
transportation; public health and safety; hazardous materials and 
hazardous wastes; public services and utilities; socioeconomics; 
environmental justice; visual resources/aesthetics; and cumulative, 
indirect, and growth-inducing effects. Additional information, 
including a map of the project site, is available by contacting the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this notice.
    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 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. 
Before including your address, telephone 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, the BIA cannot guarantee that this will 
occur.
    Authority: This notice is published in accordance with sections 
1503.1 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.

    Dated: December 21, 2015.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-33247 Filed 1-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 6, 2016 / Notices 511

information. The purpose of this notice PHAs submit a written appeal request to as lead agency, and the Prairie Band
is to allow for 60 days of public HUD. Potawatomi Nation (Nation) as
comment. Respondents (i.e. affected public): cooperating agency, intend to gather
State, Local or Tribal Government. information necessary to prepare an
DATES: Comments Due Date: March 7,
Estimated Number of Respondents: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
2016.
127. in connection with the Nation’s
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are Estimated Number of Responses: 127. application for the proposed acquisition
invited to submit comments regarding Frequency of Response: 1. in trust by the United States of
this proposal. Comments should refer to Average Hours per Response: 20. approximately 129 acres for
the proposal by name and/or OMB Total Estimated Burdens: 2,489. construction and operation of a gaming
Control Number and should be sent to: facility in DeKalb County, Illinois. This
Colette Pollard, Reports Management B. Solicitation of Public Comment notice also opens public scoping to
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing This notice is soliciting comments identify potential issues, concerns and
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street from members of the public and affected alternatives to be considered in the EIS.
SW., Room 4176, Washington, DC parties concerning the collection of DATES: The date and location of the
20410–5000; telephone 202–402–3400 information described in section A on public meeting will be announced at
(this is not a toll-free number) or email the following: least 15 days in advance through a
at Colette.Pollard@hud.gov for a copy of (1) Whether the proposed collection notice in the Daily Chronicle and the
the proposed forms or other available of information is necessary for the Midweek and on the following Web site:
information. Persons with hearing or proper performance of the functions of www.prairiebandeis.com. Written
speech impairments may access this the agency, including whether the comments on the DEIS must arrive
number through TTY by calling the toll- information will have practical utility; within 45 days after EPA publishes its
free Federal Relay Service at (800) 877– (2) The accuracy of the agency’s Notice of Availability.
8339. estimate of the burden of the proposed ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: collection of information; deliver written comments to Diane
Arlette Mussington, Office of Policy, (3) Ways to enhance the quality, Rosen, Regional Director, Bureau of
Programs and Legislative Initiatives, utility, and clarity of the information to Indian Affairs, Midwest Region, Norman
PIH, Department of Housing and Urban be collected; and Pointe II Building, 5600 W. American
Development, 451 7th Street SW., (4) Ways to minimize the burden of Blvd., Suite 500, Bloomington,
(L’Enfant Plaza, Room 2206), the collection of information on those Minnesota 55437. Please include your
Washington, DC 20410; telephone 202– who are to respond; including through name, return address, and ‘‘NOI
402–4109 (this is not a toll-free the use of appropriate automated Comments, Prairie Band Project’’ on the
number). Persons with hearing or collection techniques or other forms of first page of your written comments.
speech impairments may access this information technology, e.g., permitting FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
number via TTY by calling the Federal electronic submission of responses. Scott Doig, Acting Regional
Information Relay Service at (800) 877– HUD encourages interested parties to Environmental Scientist, at the address
8339. Copies of available documents submit comment in response to these above, or at telephone (612) 725–4514,
submitted to OMB may be obtained questions. email scott.doig@bia.gov.
from Ms. Mussington. Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35 Nation submitted a request to the
notice informs the public that HUD is as amended. Department of the Interior for the
seeking approval from OMB for the Dated: December 30, 2015. placement of approximately 129 acres of
information collection described in Danielle Bastarache, fee land in trust by the United States
section A. Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy, upon which the Nation would construct
Programs and Legislative Initiatives. a class II gaming facility. The property
A. Overview of Information Collection is located in DeKalb County just
[FR Doc. 2015–33186 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am]
Title of Information Collection: Public BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
southeast of the town of Shabbona, IL.
Housing Operating Subsidy—Appeals. The gaming facility would consist of a
OMB Approval Number: 2577–0246. class II gaming area, restaurants and
Type of Request: Extension of a lounges, a multi-purpose room that
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
currently approved collection. could be used for entertainment,
Form Number: N/A. Bureau of Indian Affairs meetings, and other purposes, and
Description of the need for the surface parking for cars and buses. The
information and proposed use: Under [167 A2100DD/AAKC001030/ property is comprised of two parcels: an
the operating fund rule, PHAs that elect A0A501010.999900] approximately 128-acre parcel currently
to file an appeal of their subsidy used for farming (Parcel ID Index 13–
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
amounts are required to meet the appeal 23–200–001), on which the gaming
Environmental Impact Statement for
requirements set forth in subpart G of facility would be built, and a 30,020
the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s
the rule. There are four grounds of square foot parcel on which a house sits
Proposed Trust Acquisition and
appeal in 24 CFR 990.245 under which (Parcel ID Index 13–23–128–002). The
Gaming Facility Project, DeKalb
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

PHAs may appeal the amount of their purpose of the proposed action is to
County, Illinois
subsidy. They are: A streamlined acquire land in trust that was
appeal; an appeal for specific local AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, historically reserved for Chief Shab-eh-
conditions; an appeal for changing Interior. nay and his Band of Potawatomis by
market conditions; and an appeal to ACTION: Notice. treaty, and to facilitate economic
substitute actual project cost data. To development so that the Tribal
appeal the amount of subsidy on any SUMMARY: This notice advises the public government can better provide housing,
one of these permitted bases of appeal, that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) health care, education, cultural

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512 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 6, 2016 / Notices

programs, and other services to its Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs by comments to the RAC. Each formal RAC
members. 209 DM 8. meeting will also have time allocated for
The proposed action encompasses the Dated: December 21, 2015. hearing public comments. Depending on
various Federal approvals which may be the number of persons wishing to
Kevin K. Washburn,
required to implement the Tribe’s comment and time available, the time
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
proposed economic development for individual oral comments may be
project, including approval of the [FR Doc. 2015–33247 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am]
limited.
Nation’s fee-to-trust application. The BILLING CODE P
EIS will identify and evaluate issues Authority: 43 CFR 1784.4–2.
related to these approvals, and will also Richard M. Hotaling,
evaluate a range of reasonable DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
District Manager, Western Montana District.
alternatives, including a no action
Bureau of Land Management [FR Doc. 2015–33270 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am]
alternative. Other possible alternatives
currently under consideration are a [LLMTB07900 15XL1109AF L10100000 BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P
reduced-intensity gaming facility PH0000 LXSIANMS0000 MO# 4500089261]
alternative, an alternate-use (non-
gaming) alternative and an off-site Notice of Public Meeting; Western
alternative. The range of issues and Montana Resource Advisory Council DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
alternatives may be revised based on AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
comments received during the scoping Interior. Antitrust Division
process. ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting.
Areas of environmental concern Notice Pursuant to the National
preliminarily identified for analysis in SUMMARY: In accordance with the Cooperative Research and Production
the EIS include land resources; water Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1993—Cooperative Research
resources; air quality; noise; biological Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Group on Mechanical Stratigraphy and
resources; cultural/historical/ Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Natural Deformation in Eagle Ford
archaeological resources; resource use Department of the Interior, Bureau of Formation and Equivalent Boquillas
patterns; traffic and transportation; Land Management (BLM) Western Formation, South-Central and West
public health and safety; hazardous Montana Resource Advisory Council Texas (Eagle Ford II)
materials and hazardous wastes; public (RAC) will meet as indicated below.
services and utilities; socioeconomics; DATES: The Western Montana Resource Notice is hereby given that, on
environmental justice; visual resources/ Advisory Council meeting will be held December 7, 2015, pursuant to section
aesthetics; and cumulative, indirect, and January 27, 2016 in Butte, Montana. The 6(a) of the National Cooperative
growth-inducing effects. Additional meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Research and Production Act of 1993,
information, including a map of the Butte Field Office conference room, 15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. (‘‘the Act’’),
project site, is available by contacting with a 30-minute public comment Cooperative Research Group on
the person listed in the FOR FURTHER period starting at 11:30 a.m., and will Mechanical Stratigraphy and Natural
INFORMATION section of this notice. adjourn at 3:00 p.m.
Public Comment Availability: Deformation in Eagle Ford Formation
ADDRESSES: BLM’s Butte Field Office, and Equivalent Boquillas Formation,
Comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be 106 N. Parkmont, Butte, MT. South-Central and West Texas (‘‘Eagle
available for public review at the BIA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ford II’’) has filed written notifications
address shown in the ADDRESSES David Abrams, Western Montana simultaneously with the Attorney
section, during regular business hours, 8 Resource Advisory Council Coordinator, General and the Federal Trade
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Butte Field Office, 106 North Parkmont, Commission disclosing changes in its
Friday, except holidays. Before Butte, MT 59701, 406–533–7617, membership. The notifications were
including your address, telephone dabrams@blm.gov. Persons who use a filed for the purpose of extending the
number, email address, or other telecommunications device for the deaf Act’s provisions limiting the recovery of
personal identifying information in your (TDD) may call the Federal Information antitrust plaintiffs to actual damages
comment, you should be aware that Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 under specified circumstances.
your entire comment—including your to contact the above individual during
Specifically, BHP Billiton Petroleum
personal identifying information—may normal business hours. The FIRS is
(Americas) Inc., has changed its name to
be made publicly available at any time. available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
to leave a message or question with the BHP Billiton Petroleum (Deepwater)
While you can ask in your comment that Inc., Houston, TX.
your personal identifying information above individual. You will receive a
be withheld from public review, the BIA reply during normal business hours. No other changes have been made in
cannot guarantee that this will occur. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 15- either the membership or planned
Authority: This notice is published in member council advises the Secretary of activity of the group research project.
accordance with sections 1503.1 and the Interior through the BLM on a Membership in this group research
1506.6 of the Council on Environmental variety of management issues associated project remains open, and Eagle Ford II
Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 with public land management in intends to file additional written
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

through 1508) implementing the Montana. During this meeting the notifications disclosing all changes in
procedural requirements of the National council will discuss several topics, membership.
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as including a briefing on weed treatments On July 1, 2015, Eagle Ford II filed its
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321–4345 et seq.), in the BLM’s Western Montana District, original notification pursuant to section
and the Department of the Interior and updates from the BLM’s Butte,
6(a) of the Act. The Department of
National Environmental Policy Act Missoula and Dillon field offices. All
Justice published a notice in the Federal
Regulations (43 CFR part 46), and is in RAC meetings are open to the public.
the exercise of authority delegated to the The public may present written

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Document Created: 2016-01-06 04:01:46
Document Modified: 2016-01-06 04:01:46

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.
Dates		The date and location of the public meeting will be announced at least 15 days in advance through a notice in the Daily Chronicle and the Midweek and on the following Web site: www.prairiebandeis.com. Written comments on the DEIS must arrive within 45 days after EPA publishes its Notice of Availability.
Contact		Scott Doig, Acting Regional
FR Citation		81 FR 511

81 FR 511 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's Proposed Trust Acquisition and Gaming Facility Project, DeKalb County, Illinois

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Indian Affairs

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 3 (January 6, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs