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February 28, 2005

Public Comment Invited on Jemez Pueblo's Casino Land


   
   
   
The Associated Press
       ANTHONY   —   The Bureau of Indian Affairs is gathering public comment and information on the proposed acquisition of land in southern New Mexico by Jemez Pueblo to build a casino, the agency announced Monday.
    The BIA has scheduled a public scoping meeting for March 16 in Anthony, where the tribe and Santa Fe art dealer Gerald Peters want to build a casino.
    Written comment on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement will be accepted through April 18.
    The land is part of a 111-acre tract located near Interstate 10.
    The pueblo is proposing a 24,000-square-foot temporary casino that would be operated for two years while a permanent casino is built. The permanent casino would have a 48,000-square-foot gaming floor and would be connected to a hotel.
    Land resources, water, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, traffic, transportation, noise and hazardous materials are among the environmental issues already identified for analysis, according to a statement from the BIA.
    In 2004, the pueblo submitted a trust application to the BIA regional office in Albuquerque. If approved, the land would become part of the Jemez reservation.
    Unlike neighboring tribes, Jemez Pueblo doesn't have the wide open spaces to develop commercial enterprises. While other tribes are building resorts, golf courses and casinos on their land, Jemez Pueblo has few economic development projects.
    Before the federal government places land in trust, the tribe must prove the off-reservation casino is in the best interest of it and its members and that it is no detriment to the surrounding community.
    The governor of New Mexico must also approve.
    Opponents of the casino have said it could set a dangerous precedent for the state.
    Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino has argued that the casino hundreds of miles from Jemez Pueblo would harm its existing racetrack and casino.
    A feasibility study by the tribe concluded the proposed casino does no harm to Sunland Park.