WASHINGTON – Two new Indian casinos proposed for the Central Valley will face yet another round of federal scrutiny under a massive spending bill approved on Friday.
Citing an alleged "lack of local support," lawmakers ordered the Interior Department to review again the casinos planned for Yuba and Madera counties. The department already gave the casinos a key go-ahead on Sept. 1.
A poll released earlier this month by the casino watchdog group Stand Up for California asserted that 63 percent of Yuba County residents opposed the Enterprise Casino proposal.
A similar survey asserted that 67 percent of Madera County voters oppose the North Fork Rancheria proposal.
"Those numbers contradict Interior Department decisions to move forward with new casinos in both counties, especially since those decisions were based on 'strong local support,' " said Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who inserted the study language.
Feinstein's measure gave Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and his Indian affairs staff two months to "verify the claims" made earlier by casino supporters that the Yuba and Madera county projects are desired by local residents.
Though the new review appears unlikely to produce different results, it may offer some tactical advantages to casino opponents. Gov. Jerry Brown is now deciding whether to support or oppose the two casino proposals.
Members of the Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians want to build an off-reservation casino about five miles south of Marysville. Members of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians likewise want to build an off-reservation casino on 305 acres north of Madera along Highway 99.
Assistant Interior Secretary Larry Echo Hawk concluded in September that both projects would be in the "best interest" of the respective tribes and "would not be detrimental" to the surrounding communities.
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