A Sonoma County Indian tribe on Wednesday cleared a key hurdle in building a Las Vegas-style casino-resort on the outskirts of Rohnert Park.
The U.S. Interior Department announced it will take 254 acres of land near Highway 101 into federal trust for the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria so that the tribe may pursue the controversial venture.
The decision, published in the Federal Register, becomes final after a 30-day period intended to allow time for legal challenges.
"This is just one of several steps in the long process to re-establish a reservation and build a resort," Greg Sarris, tribal chairman, said in a statement.
The tribe, which claims membership of about 1,000 Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians, has been trying to build a $450 million casino and hotel complex on the site since 2003. It is allowed to do so by the Graton Rancheria Restoration Act of 2000, introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., that says the government "shall accept into trust for the benefit of the tribe any real property located in Marin or Sonoma County."
Before a casino can be built, the tribe must: Complete an environmental review, get federal approval of its casino management arrangement with Station Casinos of Nevada and negotiate a gaming compact with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenneger.
The environmental review, which has been under way for four years, could be completed in late summer. A management contract with Station Casinos could follow.
A spokesman for the governor said because of the 30-day review period he could not say when or if compact negotiations would begin. But spokesman Aaron McLear said the governor has never refused negotiations with a tribe holding gaming-eligible land.
"We're keeping an eye on it," he said. "But there's no real role for us."
Each of the steps could be held up by legal challenges.
Casino opponents downplayed the latest development. Pastor Chip Worthington of Stop the Casino 101 Coalition contended the land is under state jurisdiction, not federal, which he asserted makes the federal decision invalid without a vote of the Legislature. He accused the tribe and Station Casinos of reservation shopping.
"The people don't want this casino, the local governments don't want it, and it's an environmental nightmare," Worthington said in a statement.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has opposed the casino. Jeff Brax, a deputy county counsel, said he was surprised the government decided to take the land into trust before the environmental impact statement was final.
Normally, local government is given an additional 30 days to comment on the trust application, submitted in March 2006. But that didn't happen because of the wording of the act recognizing the tribe, he said.
"I think it's significant," Brax said. "It's an important step for development of the property for gaming or any other purpose."
You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 762-7297 or
paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.WHAT'S NEXT?
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria need several more governmental approvals before they can build a resort-casino in Rohnert Park:
Completion of environmental impact review, possibly by August
Federal approval of tribe's agreement with partner Station Casinos of Las Vegas
Gaming compact agreement with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
