83 FR 47935 - Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Tule River Tribe's Proposed Fee-to-Trust and Eagle Mountain Casino Relocation Project, Tulare County, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 184 (September 21, 2018)

Page Range		47935-47935
FR Document		2018-20577

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as lead agency, with the Tule River Indian Tribe (Tribe), City of Porterville (City), Tulare County (County), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) serving as cooperating agencies, intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with the EPA in connection with the Tribe's application for acquisition in trust by the United States of approximately 40 acres for gaming and other purposes to be located in the City of Porterville, Tulare County, California. This notice also announces that the DEIS is now available for public review and that a public hearing will be held to receive comments on the DEIS.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 184 (Friday, September 21, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 47935]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20577]



[[Page 47935]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[189D0102DR/DS5A300000/DR.5A311.IA000118]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Tule River Tribe's Proposed Fee-to-Trust and Eagle Mountain 
Casino Relocation Project, Tulare County, California

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), as lead agency, with the Tule River Indian Tribe 
(Tribe), City of Porterville (City), Tulare County (County), and the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) serving as cooperating 
agencies, intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
with the EPA in connection with the Tribe's application for acquisition 
in trust by the United States of approximately 40 acres for gaming and 
other purposes to be located in the City of Porterville, Tulare County, 
California. This notice also announces that the DEIS is now available 
for public review and that a public hearing will be held to receive 
comments on the DEIS.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS must arrive no later than November 5, 2018. 
The date and time of the public hearing will be announced at least 15 
days in advance through a notice to be published in a local newspaper 
(the Porterville Recorder) and online at http://www.tulerivereis.com.

ADDRESSES: You may send written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Mail or hand-delivery: Amy Dutschke, Regional Director, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, 
California 95825. Please include your name, return address, and ``DEIS 
Comments, Tule River Tribe Casino Relocation Project'' on the first 
page of your written comments.
     Email: chad.broussard@bia.gov. Please use ``DEIS Comments, 
Tule River Tribe Casino Relocation Project'' as the subject of your 
email.
    The location of the public hearing will be announced at least 15 
days in advance through a notice to be published in a local newspaper 
(the Porterville Recorder) and online at http://www.tulerivereis.com.
    The DEIS is available for review at the following locations:
     Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage 
Way, Sacramento, California 95825 (during regular business hours).
     Porterville Public Library at 41 West Thurman Avenue in 
Porterville, California (during regular business hours).
     http://www.tulerivereis.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chad Broussard, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional 
Office; telephone: (916) 978-6165; email: chad.broussard@bia.gov. 
Information is also available online at http://www.tulerivereis.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public review of the DEIS is part of the 
administrative process for the evaluation of the Tribe's application to 
the BIA for the placement of approximately 40 acres of fee land in 
trust in Tulare County, California. The Tribe proposes to construct a 
casino resort on the trust property. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to 
prepare an EIS was published in the Porterville Recorder and Federal 
Register on December 30, 2016 (81 FR 96477). The BIA held a public 
scoping meeting for the project on January 23, 2017, at the Veterans 
Memorial Building, in Porterville, California.
    Background: The Tribe's proposed project consists of the following 
components: (1) The Department's transfer of the approximately 40-acre 
fee property into trust status; (2) issuance of a determination by the 
Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 
25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.; and (3) the Tribe's proposed development of the 
trust parcel and the off-site improvement areas. The proposed casino-
hotel resort would include a hotel, convention center, multipurpose 
event space, several restaurant facilities, parking facilities and 
water reclamation infrastructure. The new facility would replace the 
Tribe's existing casino, and the existing casino buildings would be 
converted to tribal government or service uses. The following 
alternatives are considered in the DEIS: (1) Proposed Project; (2) 
Proposed Project with On-Site Water and Wastewater Systems; (3) Reduced 
Intensity Hotel and Casino; (4) Non-Gaming Hotel and Conference Center; 
(5) Expansion of Existing Eagle Mountain Casino; and (6) No Action 
Alternative. Environmental issues addressed in the DEIS include geology 
and soils, water resources, air quality, biological resources, cultural 
and paleontological resources, socioeconomic conditions (including 
environmental justice), transportation and circulation, land use, 
public services, noise, hazardous materials, aesthetics, cumulative 
effects, and indirect and growth inducing effects.
    Locations where the DEIS is Available for Review: The DEIS is 
available for review at the addresses noted above in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice. To obtain a compact disc copy of the DEIS, 
please provide your name and address in writing or by phone to Chad 
Broussard, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Region Office. Contact 
information is listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. 
Individual paper copies of the DEIS will be provided 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 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 pursuant to Sec. 1503.1 of the 
Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 
1508) and Sec. 46.305 of the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 
CFR part 46), implementing the procedural requirements of the NEPA of 
l969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371, et seq.), and is in the exercise of 
authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 
DM 8.

    Dated: September 13, 2018.
Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-20577 Filed 9-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 184 / Friday, September 21, 2018 / Notices 47935

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR • Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific environmental justice), transportation
Region, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, and circulation, land use, public
Bureau of Indian Affairs California 95825 (during regular services, noise, hazardous materials,
business hours). aesthetics, cumulative effects, and
[189D0102DR/DS5A300000/ • Porterville Public Library at 41
DR.5A311.IA000118] indirect and growth inducing effects.
West Thurman Avenue in Porterville,
California (during regular business Locations where the DEIS is Available
Notice of Availability of a Draft for Review: The DEIS is available for
Environmental Impact Statement for hours).
• http://www.tulerivereis.com. review at the addresses noted above in
the Tule River Tribe’s Proposed Fee-to- the ADDRESSES section of this notice. To
Trust and Eagle Mountain Casino FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chad Broussard, Environmental obtain a compact disc copy of the DEIS,
Relocation Project, Tulare County, please provide your name and address
California Protection Specialist, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Pacific Regional Office; in writing or by phone to Chad
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, telephone: (916) 978–6165; email: Broussard, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior. chad.broussard@bia.gov. Information is Pacific Region Office. Contact
ACTION: Notice of availability. also available online at http:// information is listed in the ADDRESSES
www.tulerivereis.com. section of this notice. Individual paper
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public copies of the DEIS will be provided
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public
that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), upon payment of applicable printing
review of the DEIS is part of the
as lead agency, with the Tule River expenses by the requestor for the
administrative process for the
Indian Tribe (Tribe), City of Porterville number of copies requested.
evaluation of the Tribe’s application to
(City), Tulare County (County), and the
the BIA for the placement of Public Comment Availability:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
approximately 40 acres of fee land in Comments, including names and
(EPA) serving as cooperating agencies,
trust in Tulare County, California. The addresses of respondents, will be
intends to file a Draft Environmental
Tribe proposes to construct a casino available for public review at the BIA
Impact Statement (DEIS) with the EPA
resort on the trust property. A Notice of address shown in the ADDRESSES
in connection with the Tribe’s
Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS was section, during regular business hours, 8
application for acquisition in trust by
published in the Porterville Recorder a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
the United States of approximately 40
and Federal Register on December 30, Friday, except holidays. Before
acres for gaming and other purposes to
2016 (81 FR 96477). The BIA held a including your address, telephone
be located in the City of Porterville,
public scoping meeting for the project number, email address, or other
Tulare County, California. This notice
on January 23, 2017, at the Veterans
also announces that the DEIS is now personal identifying information in your
Memorial Building, in Porterville,
available for public review and that a comment, you should be aware that
California.
public hearing will be held to receive Background: The Tribe’s proposed your entire comment—including your
comments on the DEIS. project consists of the following personal identifying information—may
DATES: Comments on the DEIS must components: (1) The Department’s be made publicly available at any time.
arrive no later than November 5, 2018. transfer of the approximately 40-acre fee While you can ask in your comment that
The date and time of the public hearing property into trust status; (2) issuance of your personal identifying information
will be announced at least 15 days in a determination by the Secretary of the be withheld from public review, the BIA
advance through a notice to be Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming cannot guarantee that this will occur.
published in a local newspaper (the Regulatory Act 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.; Authority: This notice is published
Porterville Recorder) and online at and (3) the Tribe’s proposed pursuant to Sec. 1503.1 of the Council
http://www.tulerivereis.com. development of the trust parcel and the of Environmental Quality Regulations
ADDRESSES: You may send written off-site improvement areas. The (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) and
comments by any of the following proposed casino-hotel resort would Sec. 46.305 of the Department of the
methods: include a hotel, convention center, Interior Regulations (43 CFR part 46),
• Mail or hand-delivery: Amy multipurpose event space, several
implementing the procedural
Dutschke, Regional Director, Bureau of restaurant facilities, parking facilities
requirements of the NEPA of l969, as
Indian Affairs, Pacific Region, 2800 and water reclamation infrastructure.
amended (42 U.S.C. 4371, et seq.), and
Cottage Way, Sacramento, California The new facility would replace the
95825. Please include your name, return Tribe’s existing casino, and the existing is in the exercise of authority delegated
address, and ‘‘DEIS Comments, Tule casino buildings would be converted to to the Assistant Secretary—Indian
River Tribe Casino Relocation Project’’ tribal government or service uses. The Affairs by 209 DM 8.
on the first page of your written following alternatives are considered in Dated: September 13, 2018.
comments. the DEIS: (1) Proposed Project; (2) Tara Sweeney,
• Email: chad.broussard@bia.gov. Proposed Project with On-Site Water Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
Please use ‘‘DEIS Comments, Tule River and Wastewater Systems; (3) Reduced
[FR Doc. 2018–20577 Filed 9–20–18; 8:45 am]
Tribe Casino Relocation Project’’ as the Intensity Hotel and Casino; (4) Non-
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
subject of your email. Gaming Hotel and Conference Center;
The location of the public hearing (5) Expansion of Existing Eagle
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

will be announced at least 15 days in Mountain Casino; and (6) No Action
advance through a notice to be Alternative. Environmental issues
published in a local newspaper (the addressed in the DEIS include geology
Porterville Recorder) and online at and soils, water resources, air quality,
http://www.tulerivereis.com. biological resources, cultural and
The DEIS is available for review at the paleontological resources,
following locations: socioeconomic conditions (including

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Document Created: 2018-09-21 00:24:09
Document Modified: 2018-09-21 00:24:09

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		Comments on the DEIS must arrive no later than November 5, 2018. The date and time of the public hearing will be announced at least 15 days in advance through a notice to be published in a local newspaper (the Porterville Recorder) and online at http://www.tulerivereis.com.
Contact		Chad Broussard, Environmental Protection Specialist, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional Office; telephone: (916) 978-6165; email: [email protected] Information is also available online at http://www.tulerivereis.com.
FR Citation		83 FR 47935

83 FR 47935 - Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Tule River Tribe's Proposed Fee-to-Trust and Eagle Mountain Casino Relocation Project, Tulare County, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Indian Affairs

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 184 (September 21, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs