The Interior Board of Indian Appeals has dismissed a challenge to the Indian land determination for the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California.

The board said it lacked jurisdiction to review the determination. The appeal was filed by Amador County, whose officials oppose the tribe's casino project.

The Interior Department says the Ione Band qualifies as a "restored" tribe under Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. That would allow the tribe to use a 228-acre site for a casino.

The county will continue to fight the tribe's request. Meanwhile, Rep. Daniel Lungren (R-California) has asked Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to reconsider the Indian land determination [PDF].

More documents can be found at http://www.co.amador.ca.us./eirs/plymouth/index.cfm.

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County's casino appeal denied (The Amador Ledger-Dispatch 11/1)