The Eis-Casino Grayon Tribe's EIS
The proposed action includes several Federal approvals, including the Tribe's fee-to-trust application. An EIS will identify issues related to these approvals and assess a range of reasonable alternatives, including a reduced-intensity casino, alternate use, or off-site gaming. The range of issues and alternatives may be expanded based on comments received during the scoping process. Further information about the proposal will be provided to the public during the EIS preparation process.
Graton Rancheria
The Eis-Casino Grayon Rancheria has won a number of awards for its environmentally conscious construction. The Casino is environmentally friendly, as it is built on a low rise site. In addition to the casino, the Tribe will also offer table games, the latest slot machines, and upscale dining. The casino is located west of Rohnert Park in Sonoma County.
The two other tribes currently seeking federal approval for an off-reservation casino are the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe and the St. Croix Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. The Menominee Nation of Michigan is also gambling on the new administration in Washington to approve the casino project. However, the two largest Indian tribes are still in the middle of the process, and it's unclear whether the new administration will approve their project.
During the 1950s, the federal government set up Graton rancheria as a temporary home for displaced Indians. By the middle of 1937, the rancheria was vacant and only three people lived there. They were 1/4 Shasta and Pomo. In 1952, they voted unanimously to terminate the federal government's ownership of the rancheria and received it as private property. The federal government completed the transfer of the land to the Graton rancheria in 1966.
Wilton Rancheria
A federal judge has ruled in favor of the Wilton Rancheria's bid to build a casino on its land. The tribe is appealing the decision, and has enlisted the help of anti-casino activist group Stand Up for California, which is suing the casino's developer. The lawsuit claims the land-to-trust application to build the Wilton Casino was improperly reviewed.
A preliminary environmental impact report has been completed for Wilton Rancheria's proposed 500 million resort casino in Elk Grove. The project's site is currently a ghost mall, which is a partially-built shopping center. Howard Hughes Corporation filed the documents for the EIS last month, and construction workers have begun work to demolish the northern part of the ghost mall. The southern half of the ghost mall should be cleared by the end of February.
A second casino on Wilton Rancheria's land will be named Sky River Casino and open in late 2022. The casino is expected to feature more than 2,000 slot machines, 80 table games, a Chinese restaurant, and a hotel. In addition, the project will include a conference center, hotel, and spa. The Wilton Rancheria Tribe plans to open Sky River Casino in late 2022.
North Fork Rancheria
The North Fork Rancheria is planning to open a $400 million casino near Madera, California. The groundbreaking is scheduled for June 2021. The project includes 200 hotel rooms, 2,000 slot machines and 40 table games. In addition to the casino, the North Fork Rancheria will also have an entertainment lounge, retail space, and meeting rooms. It is the latest project from the tribe. However, there are still a few legal hurdles to clear before the casino can open.
The compact between the tribe and the Department of Interior stipulated that North Fork be allowed to operate a casino and hotel. This was approved by the Interior Department, but a lawsuit was filed against the tribe. In this lawsuit, the tribe alleged that the federal government violated the tribe's legal right to operate a casino. The tribe claims that the law violates the Administrative Procedures Act.
In a separate lawsuit, the tribe challenged the Governor's power to concur in the gaming agreement. The lawsuit claimed that the Secretary of the Interior could take land in Madera County into trust for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, but the Governor did not have the authority to do so. The IRA decision also found that the casino did not violate the Indian Reorganization Act because it was granted under federal law.