Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement and a Final Conformity Determination for the Proposed Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria Casino and Hotel Project, Sonoma County, CA, 9007-9008 [E9-4263]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 38 / Friday, February 27, 2009 / Notices
9007
ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 605—Continued
Projects
Pending Subsequent Report **.
Obligated
Objectives
........................
Cumulative
disbursements
..........................................
Measures
$0
* Program administration funds are used to pay items such as salaries, rent, and the cost of office equipment.
** These amounts represent disbursements made that will be allocated to individual projects in the subsequent quarter(s) and reported as such
in subsequent quarterly report(s).
619(b) Transfer or Allocation of Funds
U.S. agency to which funds were
transferred or allocated
Amount
Description of program or project
USAID .......................................................
$558,000
Dated: February 18, 2009.
James Mazzarella,
Managing Director, Congressional Affairs,
Acting Vice President, Congressional and
Public Affairs, Millennium Challenge
Corporation.
[FR Doc. E9–4255 Filed 2–26–09; 8:45 am]
the ‘‘Stony Point Site,’’ (D) a reduced
intensity casino/hotel project on the
‘‘Stony Point’’ site, (E) an alternate use
project on the ‘‘Stony Point’’ site, (F) a
casino/hotel project on the ‘‘Lakeville
Site,’’ (G) a no proposed project/action
alternative, and (H) a reduced intensity
casino/hotel on the ‘‘Wilfred Site.’’ This
notice advises the public that the NIGC
has filed the FEIS with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
In accordance with Section 176 of the
Clean Air Act 42 U.S.C. 7506, and the
EPA general conformity regulations 40
CFR part 93, subpart B, a Final
Conformity Determination (FCD) has
been prepared for the proposed project.
The FCD is contained within Appendix
W of the FEIS.
DATES: Pursuant to the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA
Regulations (40 CFR 1506.10), the
publication of this NOA in the Federal
Register initiates a 30-day waiting
period for the Federal decision. Thus, a
Record of Decision (ROD) on the
proposed project/action will be issued
no sooner than 30 days after the release
of the FEIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information or to request a copy
of the FEIS, please contact: Brad
Mehaffy, NEPA Compliance Officer,
National Indian Gaming Commission,
1441 L Street, NW., Suite 9100,
Washington DC 20005, Phone: (202)
632–7003, Ext. 256, Fax: (202) 632–
7066, E-mail: graton_eis@nigc.gov.
The FEIS is available for public
review at the Rohnert Park—Cotati
Regional Library and Santa Rosa Central
Library, general information, including
directions and office hours is available
online at: https://www.sonoma.lib.ca.us/
branches/ or by calling (707) 584–9121
for the Rohnert Park—Cotati Regional
Library or (707) 545–0831 for the Santa
Rosa Central Library. The FEIS can also
be viewed at https://www.gratoneis.com.
BILLING CODE 9211–03–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Indian Gaming Commission
Notice of Availability of a Final
Environmental Impact Statement and a
Final Conformity Determination for the
Proposed Federated Indians of the
Graton Rancheria Casino and Hotel
Project, Sonoma County, CA
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES2
AGENCY: National Indian Gaming
Commission (NIGC), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).
SUMMARY: In accordance with Section
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) 42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq., the NIGC, in cooperation with the
Federated Indians of the Graton
Rancheria (the ‘‘Graton Rancheria’’), has
prepared a Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) for a proposed casino
and hotel project/action to be located in
Sonoma County, California. The
purpose of the proposed project/action
is to help address the socio-economic
needs of the Graton Rancheria. The FEIS
includes an analysis of potential
environmental impacts on those
resources as a result of implementing
each of the alternatives. A Response to
Comments document is included within
the FEIS which provides agency
responses to substantive environmental
comments raised during the DEIS
comment period. The alternatives
considered in detail within the FEIS are:
(A) A casino/hotel project on the
‘‘Wilfred Site’’ (the proposed project/
action), (B, C) a casino/hotel project on
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:43 Feb 26, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Threshold Program.
Frm 00112
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Sfmt 4703
The
proposed federal action is the NIGC’s
approval of a gaming management
contract between the Graton Rancheria
and SC Sonoma Management LLC. The
approval of the gaming management
contract would result in the
development of a resort hotel, casino,
and supporting facilities. The facility
will be managed by SC Sonoma
Management LLC on behalf of the
Graton Rancheria, pursuant to the terms
of a gaming management contract.
The NIGC has afforded other
government agencies and the public
extensive opportunity to participate in
the preparation of this FEIS. The NIGC
published a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the
Federal Register on February 12, 2004,
briefly describing the proposed project/
action and announcing the NIGC’s
intent to prepare an EIS. The CEQ
Regulations for implementing NEPA
require a process, referred to as
‘‘scoping,’’ for determining the range of
environmental issues to be addressed
during the environmental review of a
proposed project/action (40 CFR
1501.7). The scoping process included
an initial determination of
environmental issues to be studied and
documented in the EIS by soliciting
comments from agencies, organizations
and individuals. During the scoping
process, the NIGC solicited comments
from the general public (providing a 50day comment period and including a
public hearing) and offered Cooperating
Agency status to both Federal and nonFederal agencies, including the Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA), the EPA, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans), the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the
California Department of Fish and Game
(CDFG) and the County of Sonoma. An
EIS Scoping Report was published in
August 2004, which summarized public
scoping comments and identified the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
27FEN1
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES2
9008
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 38 / Friday, February 27, 2009 / Notices
BIA, USACE, Caltrans, and Sonoma
County as cooperating agencies. Due to
a change in project alternatives, the
NIGC released a supplemental NOI
(Federal Register September 29, 2005)
and Scoping Report (January 2006).
A NOA for the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) was published
in the Federal Register on March 9,
2007. The DEIS addressed the issues
and concerns summarized within the
scoping reports, to the extent required
by NEPA. Seven alternatives were
evaluated in detail in the DEIS,
including development on one of three
alternatives sites (Wilfred, Stony Point,
and Lakeville) and a no action
alternative. The proposed project/action
(Alternative A) includes a casino/hotel
resort on a site west of Rohnert Park (the
Wilfred site). The casino/hotel resort
would include restaurants, a hotel, an
entertainment venue, gaming space,
banquet/meeting space, and a pool and
spa. In addition to the casino/hotel
facility, the proposed development
would also include on-site parking and
an on-site tertiary wastewater treatment
plant.
Alternative B consists of the
development of a casino/hotel resort
nearly identical to that proposed under
Alternative A, but located on the
northwest corner of an adjacent site,
slightly further west of Rohnert Park
(the Stony Point site). Alternative C also
consists of the development of a casino/
hotel resort nearly identical to that
proposed under Alternative A.
However, the Alternative C casino/hotel
resort would be located on the northeast
corner of the Stony Point site.
Alternative D consists of a smaller-scale
version of Alternative B. Alternative E
consists of a business park development
located on the northwest corner of the
Stony Point site. Alternative F consists
of the development of a casino/hotel
resort nearly identical to that proposed
under Alternative A but located on a
different site in southern Sonoma
County near the intersection of State
Route 37 and the Lakeville Highway
(the Lakeville site). Alternative G is the
no project/action alternative, under
which the NIGC would not approve the
management contract.
The DEIS was available for public
comment from March 9, 2007 to June 5,
2007. The DEIS was available for an 88day review and comment period, 43
days longer than what is required by
NEPA, and 28 days longer than what is
recommended in the NIGC NEPA
Procedures Manual. Two public
hearings were held on the Draft EIS,
April 4, 2007 at the Spreckles
Performing Arts Center, Rohnert Park,
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:39 Feb 26, 2009
Jkt 217001
CA and April 5, 2007 at the Wells Fargo
Performing Arts Center, Santa Rosa, CA.
Eight alternatives are evaluated in
detail in the FEIS, including
development on one of three
alternatives sites (Wilfred, Stony Point,
and Lakeville) and a no action
alternative. Based on comments
received by cooperating agencies and at
the request of the Tribe, a full, detailed
analysis of an eighth alternative
(Alternative H) has been added to the
FEIS analysis. Alternative H is a
reduced intensity casino alternative
with the same components as the
reduced intensity Alternative D but
located on the Wilfred Site.
The Clean Air Act requires federal
agencies to assure that their actions
conform to applicable implementation
plans for achieving and maintaining the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
for criteria air pollutants. The NIGC
prepared a FCD for the proposed action/
project described above. The FCD is
included in Appendix W of the FEIS.
Authority: This notice is published in
accordance with Sections 1506.6 of the
Council of Environmental Quality
Regulations 40 CFR, Parts 1500 through 1508
implementing the procedural requirements of
the NEPA of 1969, as amended 42 U.S.C.
4371 et seq. This notice is also published in
accordance with 40 CFR 93.155, which
provides reporting requirements for
conformity determinations.
Dated: February 13, 2009.
Philip N. Hogen,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. E9–4263 Filed 2–26–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7565–01–P
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory
Committee #13883; Notice of Meeting
In accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, as amended), the National Science
Foundation announces the following
meeting:
Name: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Advisory Committee (#13883).
Date and Time: March 5, 2009, 2 p.m.–4
p.m. EDT.
Place: Teleconference.
National Science Foundation, Room 1060,
Stafford I Building, 4201 Wilson Blvd.,
Arlington, VA, 22230.
Type of Meeting: Open.
Contact Person: Dr. Craig B. Foltz, Acting
Division Director, Division of Astronomical
Sciences, Suite 1045, National Science
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington,
VA 22230. Telephone: 703–292–4908.
Reason for Late Notice: Due to scheduling
complications. At the last meeting, February
19, it was decided that another meeting via
PO 00000
Frm 00113
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Sfmt 4703
teleconference was required to review the
draft annual report before the March 15
submission.
Purpose of Meeting: To provide advice and
recommendations to the National Science
Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) and the
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on issues
within the field of astronomy and
astrophysics that are of mutual interest and
concern to the agencies.
Agenda: To discuss the Committee’s draft
annual report due 15 March 2009.
Dated: February 24, 2009.
Susanne E. Bolton,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. E9–4188 Filed 2–26–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Proposal Review Panel in Earth
Sciences; Notice of Meeting
In accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, as amended), the National Science
Foundation announces the following
meeting:
Name: Earth Sciences Proposal Review
Panel (1569).
Date & Time: April 1–3, 2009; 8:30 a.m.–
5 p.m. each day.
Place: Stafford I Conference Center,
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson
Blvd., Room 770, Arlington, VA 22230.
Type of Meeting: Part-Open—see Agenda,
below.
Contact Person: Dr. David Lambert,
Program Director, Instrumentation &
Facilities Program, Division of Earth
Sciences, National Science Foundation, 4201
Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230.
Telephone: (703) 292–8558.
Purpose of Meeting: To carry out review of
IRIS management and leadership as
stipulated in cooperative agreement EAR–
0552316.
Agenda
Closed:
April 1 from 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.:
Organization meeting, introductions, review
of charge to review panel, discussion of COI;
and 1 p.m.–5 p.m.: panel discussion, write
up of summary of findings and
recommendations.
April 2 from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.: Write up of
summary of findings and recommendations;
April 3 from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.: Complete
panel summary and recommendations.
Open:
April 1 from 9:30 a.m.–12 a.m.:
Presentation by IRIS management and Q&A
between panel and IRIS.
Reason for Closing: During the closed
sessions, the panel will be reviewing
information of a proprietary or confidential
nature, including technical information,
financial data such as salaries, and personal
information that could harm individuals if
they are disclosed. If discussions were open
to the public, these matters that are exempt
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
27FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 38 (Friday, February 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9007-9008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4263]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Indian Gaming Commission
Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement
and a Final Conformity Determination for the Proposed Federated Indians
of the Graton Rancheria Casino and Hotel Project, Sonoma County, CA
AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the NIGC, in
cooperation with the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria (the
``Graton Rancheria''), has prepared a Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) for a proposed casino and hotel project/action to be
located in Sonoma County, California. The purpose of the proposed
project/action is to help address the socio-economic needs of the
Graton Rancheria. The FEIS includes an analysis of potential
environmental impacts on those resources as a result of implementing
each of the alternatives. A Response to Comments document is included
within the FEIS which provides agency responses to substantive
environmental comments raised during the DEIS comment period. The
alternatives considered in detail within the FEIS are: (A) A casino/
hotel project on the ``Wilfred Site'' (the proposed project/action),
(B, C) a casino/hotel project on the ``Stony Point Site,'' (D) a
reduced intensity casino/hotel project on the ``Stony Point'' site, (E)
an alternate use project on the ``Stony Point'' site, (F) a casino/
hotel project on the ``Lakeville Site,'' (G) a no proposed project/
action alternative, and (H) a reduced intensity casino/hotel on the
``Wilfred Site.'' This notice advises the public that the NIGC has
filed the FEIS with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In accordance with Section 176 of the Clean Air Act 42 U.S.C. 7506,
and the EPA general conformity regulations 40 CFR part 93, subpart B, a
Final Conformity Determination (FCD) has been prepared for the proposed
project. The FCD is contained within Appendix W of the FEIS.
DATES: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA
Regulations (40 CFR 1506.10), the publication of this NOA in the
Federal Register initiates a 30-day waiting period for the Federal
decision. Thus, a Record of Decision (ROD) on the proposed project/
action will be issued no sooner than 30 days after the release of the
FEIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to request
a copy of the FEIS, please contact: Brad Mehaffy, NEPA Compliance
Officer, National Indian Gaming Commission, 1441 L Street, NW., Suite
9100, Washington DC 20005, Phone: (202) 632-7003, Ext. 256, Fax: (202)
632-7066, E-mail: graton_eis@nigc.gov.
The FEIS is available for public review at the Rohnert Park--Cotati
Regional Library and Santa Rosa Central Library, general information,
including directions and office hours is available online at: https://
www.sonoma.lib.ca.us/branches/ or by calling (707) 584-9121 for the
Rohnert Park--Cotati Regional Library or (707) 545-0831 for the Santa
Rosa Central Library. The FEIS can also be viewed at https://
www.gratoneis.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed federal action is the NIGC's
approval of a gaming management contract between the Graton Rancheria
and SC Sonoma Management LLC. The approval of the gaming management
contract would result in the development of a resort hotel, casino, and
supporting facilities. The facility will be managed by SC Sonoma
Management LLC on behalf of the Graton Rancheria, pursuant to the terms
of a gaming management contract.
The NIGC has afforded other government agencies and the public
extensive opportunity to participate in the preparation of this FEIS.
The NIGC published a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register on
February 12, 2004, briefly describing the proposed project/action and
announcing the NIGC's intent to prepare an EIS. The CEQ Regulations for
implementing NEPA require a process, referred to as ``scoping,'' for
determining the range of environmental issues to be addressed during
the environmental review of a proposed project/action (40 CFR 1501.7).
The scoping process included an initial determination of environmental
issues to be studied and documented in the EIS by soliciting comments
from agencies, organizations and individuals. During the scoping
process, the NIGC solicited comments from the general public (providing
a 50-day comment period and including a public hearing) and offered
Cooperating Agency status to both Federal and non-Federal agencies,
including the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the EPA, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE), the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the California
Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and the County of Sonoma. An EIS
Scoping Report was published in August 2004, which summarized public
scoping comments and identified the
[[Page 9008]]
BIA, USACE, Caltrans, and Sonoma County as cooperating agencies. Due to
a change in project alternatives, the NIGC released a supplemental NOI
(Federal Register September 29, 2005) and Scoping Report (January
2006).
A NOA for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was
published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2007. The DEIS addressed
the issues and concerns summarized within the scoping reports, to the
extent required by NEPA. Seven alternatives were evaluated in detail in
the DEIS, including development on one of three alternatives sites
(Wilfred, Stony Point, and Lakeville) and a no action alternative. The
proposed project/action (Alternative A) includes a casino/hotel resort
on a site west of Rohnert Park (the Wilfred site). The casino/hotel
resort would include restaurants, a hotel, an entertainment venue,
gaming space, banquet/meeting space, and a pool and spa. In addition to
the casino/hotel facility, the proposed development would also include
on-site parking and an on-site tertiary wastewater treatment plant.
Alternative B consists of the development of a casino/hotel resort
nearly identical to that proposed under Alternative A, but located on
the northwest corner of an adjacent site, slightly further west of
Rohnert Park (the Stony Point site). Alternative C also consists of the
development of a casino/hotel resort nearly identical to that proposed
under Alternative A. However, the Alternative C casino/hotel resort
would be located on the northeast corner of the Stony Point site.
Alternative D consists of a smaller-scale version of Alternative B.
Alternative E consists of a business park development located on the
northwest corner of the Stony Point site. Alternative F consists of the
development of a casino/hotel resort nearly identical to that proposed
under Alternative A but located on a different site in southern Sonoma
County near the intersection of State Route 37 and the Lakeville
Highway (the Lakeville site). Alternative G is the no project/action
alternative, under which the NIGC would not approve the management
contract.
The DEIS was available for public comment from March 9, 2007 to
June 5, 2007. The DEIS was available for an 88-day review and comment
period, 43 days longer than what is required by NEPA, and 28 days
longer than what is recommended in the NIGC NEPA Procedures Manual. Two
public hearings were held on the Draft EIS, April 4, 2007 at the
Spreckles Performing Arts Center, Rohnert Park, CA and April 5, 2007 at
the Wells Fargo Performing Arts Center, Santa Rosa, CA.
Eight alternatives are evaluated in detail in the FEIS, including
development on one of three alternatives sites (Wilfred, Stony Point,
and Lakeville) and a no action alternative. Based on comments received
by cooperating agencies and at the request of the Tribe, a full,
detailed analysis of an eighth alternative (Alternative H) has been
added to the FEIS analysis. Alternative H is a reduced intensity casino
alternative with the same components as the reduced intensity
Alternative D but located on the Wilfred Site.
The Clean Air Act requires federal agencies to assure that their
actions conform to applicable implementation plans for achieving and
maintaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for criteria air
pollutants. The NIGC prepared a FCD for the proposed action/project
described above. The FCD is included in Appendix W of the FEIS.
Authority: This notice is published in accordance with Sections
1506.6 of the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations 40 CFR,
Parts 1500 through 1508 implementing the procedural requirements of
the NEPA of 1969, as amended 42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq. This notice is
also published in accordance with 40 CFR 93.155, which provides
reporting requirements for conformity determinations.
Dated: February 13, 2009.
Philip N. Hogen,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. E9-4263 Filed 2-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7565-01-P
