City fighting casino opposes BIA land-into-trust appeal rule

Friday, July 19, 2013
Filed Under: Casino Stalker
More on: bia, coquille, land-into-trust, oregon, patchak, supreme court

A city that's fighting a casino proposed by the Coquille Tribe is opposing a new Bureau of Indian Affairs regulation that affects land-into-trust applications.

The rule allows the BIA to finalize a land-into-trust application without a 30-day waiting period. Officials in Medford, Oregon, claims the change will won't allow them to make comments during the process.

"It makes it so we don't have a voice in the process," city council member Dan Bunn said, The Medford Mail Tribune reported.

The elimination of the 30-day waiting period only comes once the BIA has made a decision to approve an application. It does not affect how local, state, tribal or other parties are involved in the process leading up to a decision.

The rule also does not prevent anyone from suing the BIA for approving a land-into-trust application. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Salazar v. Patchak opened a six-year window for lawsuits.

The BIA is accepting comments on the proposed rule until July 29. The city council wants an extension.

Get the Story:
Council raises stakes on casino push (The Meford Mail Tribune 7/19)

Federal Register Notice
Land Acquisitions: Appeals of Land Acquisition Decisions (May 29, 2013)

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City to send delegation to DC to battle Coquille Tribe's casino (06/07)