Cascade Locks Resort and Casino Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Project Web Site
Welcome to the Cascade Locks Resort and Casino EIS Project Web Site!
Project Overview
The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (Tribe) propose to develop a resort and casino in the City of Cascade Locks, Hood River County, Oregon. On April 6, 2005, the Governor of Oregon, Ted Kulongoski, and the Warms Springs Tribal Council Chairman, Ron Suppah, signed a Tribal-State Compact as an initial step in the process of putting off-reservation land into trust for gaming purposes. The purpose of the resort and casino is to improve the Tribe's long-term economic and social vitality and self-sufficiency, both with respect to its government operations and with respect to its members, by allowing them to develop a gaming facility at a new location.
To develop the resort and casino, the Tribe seeks a fee-to-trust transfer (see FAQs) of approximately 25 acres in trust for the development of gaming and related entertainment facilities. Pursuant to Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the Secretary of the Interior must also determine whether establishment of a gaming facility for the Tribe on these lands (1) will be in the best interest of the Tribe and its members and (2) will not be detrimental to the surrounding communities.
The 25 acres proposed for trust acquisition are part of a 60-acre tract of industrial lands located at the eastern edge of Cascade Locks. In addition to the fee-to-trust parcel, the Tribe intends to lease adjacent lands (approximately 35 acres) from the Port of Cascade Locks for ancillary facilities associated with the resort and casino (including parking, site drainage, and utilities connections).
The proposal also includes transportation system improvements necessary to provide access to the proposed development. Among the alternatives to be studied is a new Interstate 84 (I-84) interchange at the existing Forest Lane overpass of I-84.
As part of the review and approval process for the fee-to-trust action and Section 20 determination, the Department of Interior (DOI), through its Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), requires compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Because the project would require transportation improvements to I-84, the Tribe's proposal also requires review and approval by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for access to the facility, which also requires compliance with NEPA. For purposes of compliance with NEPA, the BIA is the lead agency for the Project and FHWA, ODOT, the City of Cascade Locks, Port of Cascade Locks, and Hood River County are cooperating agencies. BIA has determined that an environmental impact statement (EIS) is needed to assess the potential effects of the Tribe's proposal and alternatives to that proposal.
The NEPA process was initiated with publication in the Federal Register of a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS. With publication of the NOI on August 30, 2005, public scoping was initiated to determine the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. The scoping process concluded on December 31, 2005. A Scoping Report documents the results of the scoping process.
A Draft EIS was released for public review following publication in the Federal Register of a Notice of Availability (NOA) on February 15, 2008. A Final EIS and a Record of Decision (ROD) are tentatively scheduled for completion in Fall/Winter 2008. With issuance of a ROD, the fee-to-trust action will be forwarded by BIA to the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, for a decision.
Participants view displays
Project News & Upcoming Events
A 90-day public comment period to review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) ended on May 15, 2008. As part of the public comment period, five public hearings in Warm Springs, Cascade Locks, Stevenson, Portland and Hood River were conducted in early/mid-March. Comments received during the comment period will be considered during preparation of a Final EIS. View comments received from key agencies and stakeholders on the Draft EIS.
Information on opportunities to comment on the project is provided on the Comment Opportunities page of this Web site.