The Bureau of Indian Affairs plans to declare a reservation for the Tohono O'odham Nation by May 16, a move that will enable the tribe to open a casino near Glendale, Arizona.

A decision is needed because a new state law is going to effect that would allow the city to annex the tribe's property without the tribe's consent. If annexation occurs, the BIA won't be able to place the land in trust.

The Obama administration initially planned to hold off on a decision until a lawsuit is resolved. But in a court filing, government attorneys say officials in Glendale refused to commit not to annex the land, The Arizona Republic reported.

The tribe owns about 135 acres near Glendale. The city has annexed all but 54 acres of the site.

The tribe plans to use the land for the West Valley Resort. Gaming will only take place on the 54 acres that are the subject of a land-into-trust application.

The BIA approved the application in July 2010. The city of Glendale and the Gila River Indian Community filed suit to block approval.

In March, a federal judge ruled that the BIA acted within the law. The city and the Gila River Indian Community are asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the case but briefing won't be complete until August -- well after the new state law goes into effect.

Get the Story:
Feds move up plans to create reservation land near Glendale (The Arizona Republic 4/5)

District Court Decision:
Gila River Indian Community v. DOI (March 3, 2011)

Related Stories:
City appeals decision favoring Tohono O'odham Nation casino (3/24)
Blog: City spends $1.3M to fight Tohono O'odham Nation casino (3/16)
Some residents urge city to drop Tohono O'odham casino appeal (3/15)
Tohono O'odham Nation awaits decision on off-reservation casino (3/14)
Editorial: Ruling on off-reservation casino ignores consequences (3/7)
Judge rejects lawsuit on Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (3/4)