Feds moving on Calif. casino

Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002 | 11:35 a.m.

The U.S. Department of Interior has confirmed its decision to place a 58-acre land parcel in trust for a California tribe, opening the door for Station Casinos Inc. of Las Vegas to build a casino there.

Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs announced last month that the decision had been made to place the parcel in trust for the United Auburn Indian Community. But the agency took a second look at this decision at the request of gambling opponent Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif.

After a re-examination of this issue, the Interior Department confirmed its earlier decision Feb. 5. A 30-day comment period must pass before the land is taken into trust.

"They looked at (Doolittle's) objections, recognized everyone had been considered in the original decision, and they've now reconfirmed the decision," said Howard Dickstein, attorney for the United Auburn tribe. "This is the final agency action."

Station would manage the casino planned for the land, which is northeast of Sacramento on Interstate 80.

Because of remaining procedures and approvals, "realistically, I don't think ground will be broken until late this year," Dickstein said.

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