SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public review of the DEIS is part of the administrative process for the evaluation of the Koi Nation's application to the BIA for the placement of approximately 68.60 acres of fee land in trust by the United States. The proposed trust property is Sonoma County assessor's parcels number 059-300-003 and is located adjacent to the Town of Windsor, Sonoma County, California. The Koi Nation proposes to construct a casino resort on the property.

The BIA previously prepared an EA that analyzed the potential environmental effects of the proposed action. The EA was made available for public comments and was the subject of a public meeting. Upon consideration of the public and agency comments received, the BIA has decided to prepare an EIS to further analyze the environmental effects which may result from the proposed action. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register and The Press Democrat on March 8, 2024.

Background: The Koi Nation's proposed project consists of the following components: (1) transfer of the 68.6-acre Project Site into federal trust status for the benefit of the Koi Nation for gaming purposes (Proposed Action); and (2) the subsequent development by the Koi Nation of a resort facility that includes a casino, hotel, ballroom/meeting space, event center, spa, and associated parking and infrastructure on the Project Site (Proposed Project). The following alternatives are considered in the DEIS: (A) Proposed Project; (B) Reduced Intensity Alternative; (C) Non-Gaming Alternative; and (D) No Action Alternative. Environmental issues addressed in the DEIS include land resources; water resources; air quality and climate change; noise; biological resources; cultural and paleontological resources; transportation and circulation; land use; hazardous materials and hazards; public services and utilities; socioeconomics; environmental justice; visual resources; and cumulative, indirect, and growth-inducing effects.

Public Comment Availability: Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be included as part of the administrative record and will be available for review at the BIA Pacific Regional Office by appointment by contacting Chad Broussard, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional Office (see contact information listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice). 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 section 1503.1 of the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) and section 46.305 of the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 CFR part 46), implementing the ( printed page 55969) procedural requirements of the NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371, et seq.), and in accordance with the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8. This notice is also published in accordance with 40 CFR 93.155, which provides reporting requirements for conformity determinations.