Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Tule River Tribe's Proposed Fee-to-Trust and Eagle Mountain Casino Relocation Project, Tulare County, California, 96477-96478 [2016-31724]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 251 / Friday, December 30, 2016 / Notices regulations. While not imposing binding requirements, the guidelines provide a reference and resource for all parties involved in child custody proceedings involving Indian children. The guidelines explain the statute and regulations and also provide examples of best practices for the implementation of the statute, with the goal of encouraging greater uniformity in the application of ICWA. The guidelines replace the 1979 and 2015 versions of the Department’s guidelines. The Department encourages all involved in child custody proceedings who seek to understand and uniformly apply ICWA and the Department’s regulations to review the guidelines, which are available at the Web page listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Dated: December 16, 2016. Lawrence S. Roberts, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2016–31726 Filed 12–29–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4337–15–P BILLING CODE 4337–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [167A2100DD/AAKC001030/ A0A501010.999900] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Tule River Tribe’s Proposed Fee-toTrust and Eagle Mountain Casino Relocation Project, Tulare County, California This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as lead agency, intends to gather information necessary for preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) in connection with the Tule River Tribe’s (Tribe) proposed Eagle Mountain Casino Relocation Project in Tulare County, California. This notice also opens public scoping to identify potential issues, concerns and alternatives to be considered in the EIS. DATES: To ensure consideration during the development of the EIS, written comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent as soon as possible and no later than January 30, 2017. The date of the public scoping meeting will be announced at least 15 days in advance through a notice to be published in the local newspaper (Porterville Recorder) and online at https:// www.tulerivereis.com. ADDRESSES: You may mail or handdeliver written comments to Ms. Amy Dutschke, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. Please include your name, return address, and ‘‘NOI Comments, Tule River Tribe Casino Relocation Project’’ on the first page of your written comments. You may also submit comments through email to Mr. John Rydzik, Chief, Division of Environmental, Cultural Resource Management and Safety, Bureau of SUMMARY: [178A2100DD/AAKC001030/ A0A501010.999900253G] Indian Gaming; Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compacts Taking Effect in the State of New Mexico Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Pueblo of Santa Ana and the State of New Mexico entered into a compact governing Class III gaming. This notice announces that the compact is taking effect. DATES: The effective date of the compact is December 30, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Paula L. Hart, Director, Office of Indian Gaming, Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, Washington, DC 20240, (202) 219–4066. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 11 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish in the Federal Register notice of approved Tribal-State compacts that are for the purpose of engaging in Class III gaming activities on Indian lands. See Public Law 100– 497, 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq. All TribalState Class III compacts, including amendments, are subject to review and approval by the Secretary under 25 CFR 293.4. The Secretary took no action on SUMMARY: srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES [FR Doc. 2016–31725 Filed 12–29–16; 8:45 am] Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice. Bureau of Indian Affairs 19:18 Dec 29, 2016 Dated: December 22, 2016. Lawrence S. Roberts, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. AGENCY: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR VerDate Sep<11>2014 the compact within 45 days of its submission. Therefore, the compact is considered to have been approved, but only to the extent the compact is consistent with IGRA. See 25 U.S.C. 2710(d)(8)(C). Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 96477 Indian Affairs, at john.rydzik@bia.gov. If emailing comments, please use ‘‘NOI Comments, Tule River Tribe Casino Relocation Project’’ as the subject of your email. The location of the public scoping meeting will be announced at least 15 days in advance through a notice to be published in the local newspaper (Porterville Recorder) and online at https://www.tulerivereis.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Rydzik, Chief, Division of Environmental, Cultural Resource Management and Safety, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W–2820, Sacramento, California 95825; telephone: (916) 978–6051; email: john.rydzik@bia.gov. Information is also available online at https:// www.tulerivereis.com. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe submitted an application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) requesting the placement of approximately 40 acres of fee land in trust by the United States upon which the Tribe would construct a casino resort. The facility would include an approximately 105,000 square foot casino, an approximately 250-room hotel, approximately 36,000 square feet of food and beverage facilities, administrative space, a multipurpose events center, a conference center, and associated parking and infrastructure. The new facility would replace the Tribe’s existing casino, and the existing casino buildings would be converted to tribal government or service uses. Accordingly, the proposed action for the Department is the acquisition requested by the Tribe. The proposed fee-to-trust property is located within the boundaries of the City of Porterville, in Tulare County, California, adjacent to the Porterville Airport and approximately 15 miles west of the Tule River Tribe Reservation. The proposed trust property includes 17 parcels, bound by West Street on the west, an off-highway vehicle park (OHV) owned by the City of Porterville to the north and east, and a photovoltaic power station (solar farm) to the south. The Assessor’s parcel numbers (APNs) for the property are 302–400–001 through 302–400–017. The purpose of the proposed action is to improve the economic status of the tribal government so it can better provide housing, health care, education, cultural programs, and other services to its members. The proposed action encompasses the various Federal approvals which may be required to implement the Tribe’s proposed project, including approval of E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1 srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 96478 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 251 / Friday, December 30, 2016 / Notices the Tribe’s fee-to-trust application and a secretarial determination pursuant to Section 2719(b)(1)(A) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The EIS will identify and evaluate issues related to these approvals, and will also evaluate a range of reasonable alternatives. Possible alternatives currently under consideration include: (1) An expanded site alternative that involves acquiring additional adjacent fee-land into trust for the development of ancillary infrastructure and overflow parking; (2) a reduced-intensity casino alternative; (3) an alternate-use (non-casino) alternative; and (4) an alternative involving expansion of the Tribe’s existing casino. The range of issues and alternatives may be expanded based on comments received during the scoping process. Areas of environmental concern identified for analysis in the EIS include land resources; water resources; air quality; noise; biological resources; cultural/historical/archaeological resources; resource use patterns; traffic and transportation; public health and safety; hazardous materials and hazardous wastes; public services and utilities; socioeconomics; environmental justice; visual resources/aesthetics; and cumulative, indirect, and growthinducing effects. The range of issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS may be expanded or reduced based on comments received in response to this notice and at the public scoping meeting. Additional information, including a map of the proposed trust property, is available by contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Public Comment Availability: Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the BIA address shown in the ADDRESSES section, during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your comment that your personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the BIA cannot guarantee that this will occur. Authority: This notice is published in accordance with sections 1503.1 and 1506.6 of the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) implementing the procedural requirements of the National VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:18 Dec 29, 2016 Jkt 241001 Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321–4345 et seq.), and the Department of the Interior National Environmental Policy Act Implementation Policy (43 CFR part 46), and is in the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary— Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8. Dated: December 22, 2016. Lawrence S. Roberts, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2016–31724 Filed 12–29–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4337–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO350000.16X.L11100000.PI0000 LXSISGMW0000] Notice of Amended Proposed Withdrawal, Release of Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and Notice of Public Meetings; Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice announces the amendment of the September 24, 2015, application by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management to withdraw approximately 10 million acres of public and National Forest System lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws to protect the Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. The amendment adds 387,981.42 acres in the State of Nevada and refines the proposed withdrawal boundaries in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. In addition, this notice announces the release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public review, which analyzes and discloses the impacts of the proposed withdrawal. DATES: Comments must be received by March 28, 2017. Meetings will be held to provide the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed withdrawal amendment and the draft EIS. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for the locations, dates, and times of the scheduled public meetings. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mark Mackiewicz, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) WO, C/O Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West, Price, UT 84501 or submitted electronically to sagebrush_ SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 withdrawals@blm.gov. Please see the section for an electronic link and office locations where specific legal descriptions and maps of the lands may be reviewed. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark A. Mackiewicz, BLM, by telephone at 435–636–3616, or by email at mmackiew@blm.gov. Persons using a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800–877–8339. FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 24, 2015, a Notice of Proposed Withdrawal was published in the Federal Register (80 FR 57635), as corrected (80 FR 63583), which provided notice of the proposal to withdraw the identified lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights. As a result of a request submitted by the State of Nevada, the BLM (applicant) petitioned the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management to amend the original proposal through the addition of 387,981.42 acres of lands in that state. These lands represent a proposal by the State of Nevada to substitute for withdrawal 487,756 acres of high mineral development potential areas in Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) for areas adjacent to SFAs that contain high value habitat and identified Greater Sage-Grouse populations. This petition also amends the original withdrawal proposal by adjusting the boundary of lands located in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming as a result of legal land description refinements that defined the proposed withdrawal boundaries utilizing the public land survey system standards. The boundary adjustments resulted in a slight decrease in overall acres proposed for withdrawal, though refinements vary section-by-section. The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management has approved the BLM’s petition. This action therefore, constitutes a withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of the Interior (43 CFR 2310.1–3(e)). Exhibit ‘‘A’’ of the application amendment describes the proposed additional public lands in Nevada being considered for withdrawal. Exhibit ‘‘B’’ describes all of the lands in both the original withdrawal application and the proposed withdrawal amendment under consideration by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The withdrawal SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 251 (Friday, December 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96477-96478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31724]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[167A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Tule River Tribe's Proposed Fee-to-Trust and Eagle Mountain Casino 
Relocation Project, Tulare County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA), as lead agency, intends to gather information necessary 
for preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) in connection 
with the Tule River Tribe's (Tribe) proposed Eagle Mountain Casino 
Relocation Project in Tulare County, California. This notice also opens 
public scoping to identify potential issues, concerns and alternatives 
to be considered in the EIS.

DATES: To ensure consideration during the development of the EIS, 
written comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent as soon as 
possible and no later than January 30, 2017. The date of the public 
scoping meeting will be announced at least 15 days in advance through a 
notice to be published in the local newspaper (Porterville Recorder) 
and online at https://www.tulerivereis.com.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand-deliver written comments to Ms. Amy 
Dutschke, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Region, 
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. Please include your 
name, return address, and ``NOI Comments, Tule River Tribe Casino 
Relocation Project'' on the first page of your written comments. You 
may also submit comments through email to Mr. John Rydzik, Chief, 
Division of Environmental, Cultural Resource Management and Safety, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, at john.rydzik@bia.gov. If emailing comments, 
please use ``NOI Comments, Tule River Tribe Casino Relocation Project'' 
as the subject of your email.
    The location of the public scoping meeting will be announced at 
least 15 days in advance through a notice to be published in the local 
newspaper (Porterville Recorder) and online at https://www.tulerivereis.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Rydzik, Chief, Division of 
Environmental, Cultural Resource Management and Safety, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2820, 
Sacramento, California 95825; telephone: (916) 978-6051; email: 
john.rydzik@bia.gov. Information is also available online at https://www.tulerivereis.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe submitted an application to the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) requesting the placement of 
approximately 40 acres of fee land in trust by the United States upon 
which the Tribe would construct a casino resort. The facility would 
include an approximately 105,000 square foot casino, an approximately 
250-room hotel, approximately 36,000 square feet of food and beverage 
facilities, administrative space, a multi-purpose events center, a 
conference center, and associated parking and infrastructure. The new 
facility would replace the Tribe's existing casino, and the existing 
casino buildings would be converted to tribal government or service 
uses. Accordingly, the proposed action for the Department is the 
acquisition requested by the Tribe. The proposed fee-to-trust property 
is located within the boundaries of the City of Porterville, in Tulare 
County, California, adjacent to the Porterville Airport and 
approximately 15 miles west of the Tule River Tribe Reservation. The 
proposed trust property includes 17 parcels, bound by West Street on 
the west, an off-highway vehicle park (OHV) owned by the City of 
Porterville to the north and east, and a photovoltaic power station 
(solar farm) to the south. The Assessor's parcel numbers (APNs) for the 
property are 302-400-001 through 302-400-017. The purpose of the 
proposed action is to improve the economic status of the tribal 
government so it can better provide housing, health care, education, 
cultural programs, and other services to its members.
    The proposed action encompasses the various Federal approvals which 
may be required to implement the Tribe's proposed project, including 
approval of

[[Page 96478]]

the Tribe's fee-to-trust application and a secretarial determination 
pursuant to Section 2719(b)(1)(A) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. 
The EIS will identify and evaluate issues related to these approvals, 
and will also evaluate a range of reasonable alternatives. Possible 
alternatives currently under consideration include: (1) An expanded 
site alternative that involves acquiring additional adjacent fee-land 
into trust for the development of ancillary infrastructure and overflow 
parking; (2) a reduced-intensity casino alternative; (3) an alternate-
use (non-casino) alternative; and (4) an alternative involving 
expansion of the Tribe's existing casino. The range of issues and 
alternatives may be expanded based on comments received during the 
scoping process.
    Areas of environmental concern identified for analysis in the EIS 
include land resources; water resources; air quality; noise; biological 
resources; cultural/historical/archaeological resources; resource use 
patterns; traffic and transportation; public health and safety; 
hazardous materials and hazardous wastes; public services and 
utilities; socioeconomics; environmental justice; visual resources/
aesthetics; and cumulative, indirect, and growth-inducing effects. The 
range of issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS may be 
expanded or reduced based on comments received in response to this 
notice and at the public scoping meeting. Additional information, 
including a map of the proposed trust property, is available by 
contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice.
    Public Comment Availability: Comments, including names and 
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the 
BIA address shown in the ADDRESSES section, during regular business 
hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. 
Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask in your comment that your personal identifying information be 
withheld from public review, the BIA cannot guarantee that this will 
occur.
    Authority: This notice is published in accordance with sections 
1503.1 and 1506.6 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. 4321-4345 et seq.), and the Department of the 
Interior National Environmental Policy Act Implementation Policy (43 
CFR part 46), and is in the exercise of authority delegated to the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.

    Dated: December 22, 2016.
Lawrence S. Roberts,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-31724 Filed 12-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P

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