Interior Department Reopens Review of $700M Vallejo Casino

The US Interior Department has decided to review its previous go-ahead for a $700 million casino project. The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians proposed this development in Vallejo. This new decision comes after some tribes took legal action against the project. These tribes worry about how clear the process was and how it might affect their ancestral lands.

Tribal Opposition Forces Federal Reassessment of Casino Project

In a letter sent out this week, Scott J. Davis, a senior advisor to the Secretary of the Interior, said that while the land set aside for the project stays in trust, the gaming eligibility approval has been pulled back for now, reported California media outlet Lake County News. The department is looking at extra evidence turned in after a 2022 legal remand, worried that this information was not fully looked at in the first decision.

The casino project, which was planned for a 160-acre plot near Interstate 80 and Highway 37, got the green light in January under the Biden administration. It would include a casino complex, homes, a tribal admin building, and a nature preserve. People who back the development say it will create lots of jobs and give the area’s economy a big boost.

Nevertheless, the project has faced fierce resistance from other tribal groups. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation have taken legal action against the Department of the Interior. They claim that the approval process was hurried and did not involve proper talks with the tribes affected. The Yocha Dehe leaders have also voiced worries about the possible damage to important sites in the region.

Yocha Dehe Supports Federal Reassessment, While Scotts Valley Fights Back

A spokesperson for the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation backed the Interior Department’s choice to take another look at the issue. They stressed how crucial it is to have a process that is fair and includes everyone, respecting what all tribes have to say. The Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation agreed, saying they are ready to join in on a thorough review of the project.

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians hit back hard at the department’s move. They claim their gaming approval came after careful consideration of legal and historical facts. Tribal Chairman Shawn Davis called the decision to reopen the case unnecessary and driven by politics. He said rival tribes are trying to hurt Scotts Valley’s push for financial independence by bringing up old arguments that did not work before.

Even with this setback, the Scotts Valley tribe still wants to go ahead with the project. They believe the review will confirm their right to set up gaming operations on the site. The Department of the Interior has asked all interested parties to send in more evidence and legal arguments by May 30. This will be part of the ongoing review.