[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 28973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10352]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[201A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]


Suspension of Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Redding Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Shasta 
County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 
is suspending preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the Redding Rancheria's (Tribe's) application requesting that the 
United States acquire land in trust in Shasta County, California, for 
the construction and operation of a casino resort.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chad Broussard, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional 
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2820, Sacramento, California 95825; 
telephone: (916) 978-6165; email: [email protected]. Information 
is also available online at www.reddingeis.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 29, 2016, the BIA published a 
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in connection with the Tribe's 
application requesting that the United States acquire approximately 232 
acres of land in trust in Shasta County, California, for the 
construction and operation of a casino resort. The proposed fee-to-
trust property is located in an unincorporated part of Shasta County, 
California, approximately 1.6 miles northeast of the existing Redding 
Rancheria, and approximately two miles southeast from the downtown of 
the City of Redding. The proposed trust property includes seven 
parcels, bound by Bechelli Lane on the north, private properties to the 
south, the Sacramento River on the west, and Interstate 5 on the east. 
The Tribe is proposing to construct a casino resort that includes a 
casino, hotel, event/convention center, outdoor amphitheater, retail 
center, and associated parking/infrastructure. The new facility would 
replace the Tribe's existing casino, and the Tribe would convert the 
existing casino buildings to a different Tribal use.
    On April 10, 2019, the BIA published a Notice of Availability in 
the Federal Register (84 FR 14391) for the Draft EIS for the Proposed 
Redding Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Shasta County, 
California. On June 6, 2019, the BIA published a notice in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 26440) to extend the comment period for the Draft EIS 
to June 17, 2019.
    By letter dated February 21, 2020, the Tribe notified the 
Department of the Interior (Department) that it would await a decision 
from the California Supreme Court in a case arising under State law and 
involving the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. 2719 et. seq., 
before the Tribe decided how to proceed on its application. Therefore, 
the Department is suspending its review of the Tribe's application and 
preparation of the EIS. Since the Tribe's request involves action by 
the California Supreme Court, the Department does not have a definite 
time frame for how long the suspension will last; however, the 
Department will provide notice when it resumes the environmental review 
process.

Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-10352 Filed 5-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P