Indian Affairs Bureau March 6, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) intends to cancel work on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed taking into federal trust of land in Sullivan County, New York, for the StockbridgeMunsee Community Band of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin (Tribe). The Tribe proposed to develop and operate a Class III gaming facility and associated facilities on the trust property. The EIS is no longer needed because the Department of the Interior has decided not to accept the land into trust, on the basis that the proposed action did not adequately meet criteria in 25 CFR 151.3; 151.10(b); 151.10(c); and 151.11(b) for trust acquisition.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as Lead Agency, with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (Tribe) as Cooperating Agency, will be gathering information needed for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed trust acquisition of approximately 679 acres of land as the Tribe's initial reservation. The proposed acquisition includes approximately 140 acres in the Town of Mashpee, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, and approximately 539 acres in the Town of Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The property in Mashpee would be used for tribal administrative and cultural purposes and housing for tribal members. For the property in Middleboro, the Tribe plans the construction of a gaming facility with related facilities. The purposes of the proposed federal action are to provide a land base for the Tribe and to help meet the economic needs of the Tribe and its members. This notice also announces public scoping meetings to identify potential issues, alternatives and content for inclusion in the EIS.