BIA advances another land-into-trust application for casino bid

Friday, August 13, 2010  

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is moving forward with yet another land-into-trust application for a gaming project.

Today's issue of the Federal Register contains a notice of a final environmental impact statement for the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California. The application is for 228 acres in Amador County.

The Ione Band gained federal recognition in 1994 and the BIA concluded the tribe qualified for a "restored" lands exception in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. But the Bush administration, on the day before President Barack Obama took office, withdrew an Indian lands opinion for the casino site.

Federal Register Notice:
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ione Band of Miwok Indians 228.04-Acre Fee-to-Trust Land Transfer and Casino Project, Amador County, California (August 13, 2010)

Ione Band Documents:
New Ione Band Letter | Old Ione Band Opinion

Related Stories:
BIA takes action with five gaming and gaming-related applications (8/6)