[Federal Register: November 21, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 225)]
[Notices]
[Page 65732-65733]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21no03-98]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Elk Valley Rancheria 203.5 Acre Fee-to-Trust Transfer and
Casino/Resort Project, Del Norte County, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), with the cooperation of the Elk Valley Rancheria,
intends to gather information necessary for preparing an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 203.50 acre Fee-to-Trust
Transfer and Casino Project in Del Norte County, California. The
purpose of the proposed action is to help meet the land base and
economic needs of the Elk Valley Rancheria. This notice also announces
a public scoping meeting to identify potential issues, topics and
alternatives for consideration in the EIS.
DATES: Written comments must arrive by December 30, 2003. The public
scoping meeting will be held on December 15, 2003, from 5 p.m. to 8
p.m., or until the last public comment is received.
ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments on the scope of
the EIS to Clay Gregory, Acting Regional Director, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2820, Sacramento,
California 95825.
[[Page 65733]]
Please include your name, return address and the caption, ``DEIS
Scoping Comments, Elk Valley Rancheria, Martin Ranch, Fee to Trust
Casino Project 203.50 Acre Fee-to-Trust Casino Project, Del Norte
County, California,'' on the first page of your written comments.
The public scoping meeting will be held at the Elk Valley Tribal
Center, 2332 Howland Hill Road, Crescent City, California 95531.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Allan, (916) 978-6043.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Elk Valley Rancheria is located just
east of Crescent City, California, on Howland Hill Road. The project
area, known locally as the Martin Ranch, is located southeast of
Crescent City, adjacent to Highway 101 and Humboldt Road.
The Elk Valley Rancheria proposes that 203.50 acres of land that is
currently owned by the tribe in fee title be taken into federal trust,
and that the site be developed for recreation/tourism by constructing a
golf course, hotel, conference facilities and casino for the benefit of
the tribe and the local community. The project site is currently
undeveloped, with the exception of a single-family residence and its
associated barn and outbuildings. The BIA will serve as the lead agency
for National Environmental Policy Act compliance.
Public Comment Availability
Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the mailing address shown in the
ADDRESSES section, during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may
request confidentiality. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or
address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of
Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent
allowed by law. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. All
submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations
or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their
entirety.
Authority
This notice is published in accordance with section 1503.1 of the
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR, parts 1500
through 1508) implementing the procedural requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),
and the Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 1-6), and is in the
exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary--Indian
Affairs by 209 DM 8.
Dated: November 12, 2003.
Aurene M. Martin,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-29088 Filed 11-20-03; 8:45 am]