EIS SCOPING REPORT
PRAIRIE BAND POTAWATOMI NATION
FEE-TO-TRUST AND GAMING FACILITY PROJECT
APRIL 2016
LEAD AGENCY:
Midwest Region Office
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Department of the Interior
Norman Pointe II Building
5600 W. American Blvd., Suite 500
Bloomington, MN 55437
EIS SCOPING REPORT
PRAIRIE BAND POTAWATOMI NATION
FEE-TO-TRUST AND GAMING FACILITY PROJECT
APRIL 2016
LEAD AGENCY:
Midwest Region Office
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Department of the Interior
Norman Pointe II Building
5600 W. American Blvd., Suite 500
Bloomington, MN 55437
PREPARED BY:
Analytical Environmental Services
1801 7th Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 447-3479
www.analyticalcorp.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
INTRODUCTION
1.1
1.2
1.3
Scoping Process ............................................................................................................................ 1-1
Cooperating Agencies ................................................................................................................... 1-2
Public Involvement ....................................................................................................................... 1-2
1.3.1 Public Notice.................................................................................................................... 1-2
1.3.2 Project Website ................................................................................................................ 1-2
1.3.3 Public Meeting ................................................................................................................. 1-2
1.3.4 Comment Letters.............................................................................................................. 1-3
2.0
PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES
2.1
2.2
Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................... 2-1
Alternatives to be Analyzed within the EIS .................................................................................. 2-1
3.0
ISSUES IDENTIFIED DURING SCOPING
3.1
3.2
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3-1
Issues Identified during Scoping ................................................................................................... 3-1
3.2.1 Alternatives and Purpose and Need ................................................................................. 3-1
3.2.2 Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................ 3-2
3.2.3 Water Quality................................................................................................................... 3-2
3.2.4 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................... 3-3
3.2.5 Biological Resources ....................................................................................................... 3-4
3.2.6 Cultural and Paleontological Resources .......................................................................... 3-4
3.2.7 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice .................................................................... 3-5
3.2.8 Transportation .................................................................................................................. 3-6
3.2.9 Land Use .......................................................................................................................... 3-7
3.2.10 Public Services................................................................................................................. 3-7
3.2.11 Noise ................................................................................................................................ 3-8
3.2.12 Hazardous Materials ........................................................................................................ 3-8
3.2.13 Aesthetics ......................................................................................................................... 3-9
3.2.14 Indirect Effects................................................................................................................. 3-9
3.2.15 Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................................................... 3-10
3.2.16 Non-EIS Issues .............................................................................................................. 3-10
4.0
EIS SCHEDULE AND PUBLIC REVIEW
EIS Schedule and Public Review .................................................................................................. 4-1
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Regional Location ............................................................................................................ 2-2
Site and Vicinity .............................................................................................................. 2-3
Proposed Trust Parcels..................................................................................................... 2-4
Alternative A – Proposed Project .................................................................................... 2-6
Alternative B – Reduced Intensity Gaming Facility ........................................................ 2-7
Alternative C – Tribal Government Building .................................................................. 2-8
Alternative D – Kansas Casino Expansion ...................................................................... 2-9
APPENDICES
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
April
2016
Notice of Intent (NOI)
Newspaper Notices
List of Commenters
Comments Received
Scoping Meeting Sign-In Sheet and Transcript
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SECTION 1.0
Introduction
SECTION 1.0
INTRODUCTION
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has initiated an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for
the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s (Nation) proposed 129-acre fee-to-trust transfer and gaming facility
project in DeKalb County, Illinois. The Proposed Action consists of the following components:
1) the transfer of two parcels, totaling 129-acres, from fee to trust status; and
2) development of the 128-acre trust parcel by the Nation with a variety of uses including, but not
limited to, a gaming facility; restaurants and lounges; a multi-purpose room that could be used for
entertainment, meetings, and other purposes; tribal government offices; and surface parking for
cars and buses.
This scoping report describes the EIS scoping process, identifies cooperating agencies, explains the
purpose and need for the proposed action, describes the proposed project and alternatives, and
summarizes the issues identified during the scoping process.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) integrates environmental considerations into the
planning process and decisions of federal agencies. NEPA provides an interdisciplinary framework to
ensure that federal agency decision-makers consider environmental factors. The key procedure required
by NEPA is the preparation of an EIS for any major federal action that may significantly affect the quality
of the environment. Public involvement, which is an important aspect of NEPA procedures, is provided
for at various steps in the development of an EIS. The first opportunity for public involvement is the EIS
scoping process.
1.1
SCOPING PROCESS
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA require a process,
referred to as “scoping,” for determining the range of issues to be addressed during the environmental
review of a Proposed Action, the type of project effects to be considered, and the range of project
alternatives to be analyzed. The scoping process is designed to provide an opportunity for the public and
other federal and state agencies to help determine the scope of EIS and alternative and entails a
determination of issues by soliciting comments from agencies, organizations, and individuals. The Notice
of Intent (NOI) comment period for Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Fee-to-Trust and Gaming Facility
Project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) began on January 6, 2016 and closed on February 22,
2016. The issues that were raised during the NOI comment period have been summarized within this
scoping report.
The first formal step in the preparation of an EIS is publication of an NOI to prepare an EIS. The BIA
published the NOI for the Proposed Action in the Federal Register on January 6, 2016 (81 FR 511;
Appendix A). The NOI described the Proposed Action and announced the initiation of the formal
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Section 1.0 Introduction
scoping process and the 30-day public scoping comment period that concluded on February 22, 2016.
Newspaper notices announcing the scoping process and meeting were published in the Daily Chronicle
and The Midweek (Appendix B), and direct mailings were sent to interested parties. A list of commenters
is included as Appendix C, all comments received during the scoping process are included as Appendix
D, and a transcript of the public scoping meeting is provided as Appendix E.
1.2
COOPERATING AGENCIES
Under NEPA, the BIA is the lead agency for the evaluation of the Proposed Action and alternatives
consistent with the CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508). The BIA may request that other agencies
having jurisdiction by law or having special expertise with respect to anticipated environmental issues be
“cooperating agencies.” Cooperating agencies participate in the scoping process and, at the lead agency’s
request, may develop information to be included in the EIS.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, DeKalb County
Shabbona Township, and Village of Shabbona have accepted BIA’s invitations to serve as cooperating
agencies.
1.3
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Public involvement opportunities provided during scoping included the public comment period and
scoping meeting. Comments were submitted both verbally and in writing at the public hearing and via
mail and e-mail.
1.3.1 PUBLIC NOTICE
The public was notified of scoping activities for the EIS through the publication of the NOI in the Federal
Register (Appendix A), local newspaper notices in the Daily Chronicle and The Midweek (Appendix B),
the project website (www.prairiebandeis.com), and direct mail to interested agencies.
1.3.2 PROJECT WEBSITE
A project website, www.prairiebandeis.com, was launched on January 5, 2016. The website provides
information on the Proposed Action, EIS process, and comment opportunities. It also provides
documents published to date, including the NOI. Additional documents will be added to the website as
they are developed. This Scoping Report will be posted on the website when issued by the BIA.
1.3.3 PUBLIC MEETING
A public scoping meeting was conducted on January 22, 2016 to provide project information and to
solicit public input on the EIS scope and alternatives. The meeting was intended to obtain input early in
the NEPA process on issues and potential impacts to be assessed in the EIS, the purpose and need for the
project, and alternatives to consider or eliminate from detailed analysis. The public scoping meeting was
conducted in the format of a formal public hearing. A court reporter/stenographer was present at the
public scoping meeting so that participants could provide individual, oral comments, which were recorded
verbatim (Appendix E). Approximately 130 people attended the meeting, 31 of whom provided oral
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Section 1.0 Introduction
comments. Comment forms were available for attendees to provide input during the scoping meeting or
to take home and mail later. Eleven comment letters/forms were submitted at the public scoping meeting
(Appendix D).
1.3.4 COMMENT LETTERS
Through the pubic scoping notices, the public was invited to submit comments via mail or e-mail during
the 30-day public review period, which concluded on February 22, 2016. Four letters were received from
agencies; 4 from groups, organizations, and businesses; and 57 from individuals (Appendix D).
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SECTION 2.0
Proposed Action and Alternatives
SECTION 2.0
PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES
2.1
PURPOSE AND NEED
The purpose and need for the Proposed Action is to improve the Nation’s short-term and long-term
economic condition and promote its self-sufficiency, and to confirm the trust status of the Shab-Eh-Nay
reservation, which was sold by the 1849 U.S. General Land Office without Congressional authorization.
Revenues from the operation of the project would improve the socioeconomic status of the Nation by
providing revenues that would be used to:
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Increase funding available for a variety of governmental programs and services, including, but
not limited to, construction management and building maintenance; road maintenance;
emergency services; law enforcement; fire prevention; court operations; early childhood
development programs; social services (including child and family services, vocational
rehabilitation, adult services, and community health services); health services; and tribal housing;
Hire additional staff for tribal programs, and train tribal employees;
Upgrade equipment and facilities, and improve operations;
Repair, upgrade, and replace equipment and facilities;
Expand and improve tribal services; and
Address infrastructure and housing needs.
Each of these purposes is consistent with the limited allowable uses for gaming revenues, as required by
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA; 25 U.S.C. § 2710(b)(2)(A)). The project would also provide
employment opportunities for tribal members as well as local non-tribal residents. Additionally,
operation of the gaming facility and related facilities on trust land would require the purchase of goods
and services, increasing opportunities for local businesses, further stimulating the local economy.
2.2
ALTERNATIVES TO BE ANALYZED WITHIN THE EIS
The project site consists of two parcels: a 128-acre parcel currently used for farming (Parcel ID Index 1323-200-001), on which the gaming facility would be built, and a 30,020 square foot (sf) parcel on which a
house sits (Parcel ID Index 13-23-128-002). The EIS will evaluate a reasonable range of alternatives to
meet the purpose and need for the Proposed Action, which include the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
April 2016
Alternative A – Proposed Project;
Alternative B – Reduced Intensity Gaming Facility;
Alternative C – Tribal Government Building;
Alternative D – Kansas Casino Expansion; and
Alternative E – No Action/No Development.
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_
^
Proposed
Project Site
Alternative D
Location
_
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Proposed Project Site
Alternative D Location
DeKalb County, IL
Jackson County, KS
Iowa
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Prairie Band Gaming Facility Scoping Report / 215517
Figure 1
Regional Location
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Indian Rd
Pontiac St
Cherokee St
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Prairie Band Gaming Facility Scoping Report / 215517
Figure 2
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LEGEND
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SOURCE: USDA aerial photograph, 6/13/2014; AES, 3/17/2016
Prairie Band Gaming Facility Scoping Report / 215517
Figure 3
Proposed Trust Parcels
Section 2.0 Proposed Action and Alternatives
The development alternatives to be analyzed in detail are identified and summarized below. Acquiring
land into trust for Alternative A, the Proposed Project, is the Proposed Action. The BIA (Lead Agency),
however, may not document a Preferred Alternative until completion of the environmental analysis. If it
is clearly known at the time, a Preferred Alternative may be identified in the Draft EIS; otherwise, BIA
may do so in the Final EIS or Record of Decision (ROD). As described in 40 CFR 1502.14(e), a
Preferred Alternative is the alternative that the agency believes would fulfill its statutory mission and
responsibilities, considering economic, environmental, technical, and other factors.
ALTERNATIVE A – PROPOSED PROJECT
Alternative A would result in the transfer of a 128-acre parcel from fee to trust status and the subsequent
development of a gaming facility and associated components (Figure 4). Alternative A would include a
gaming floor, restaurants and bars, a multipurpose center; back of house operations, tribal government
offices, other ancillary uses, and approximately 820 parking spaces. The combined building footprint
would be approximately 93,600 sf. Alternative A would also involve the transfer of the 30,020 sf parcel
with an existing single-family residence into trust.
ALTERNATIVE B – REDUCED INTENSITY GAMING FACILITY
Alternative B would result in the transfer of the 128-acre parcel into trust and the development of a
gaming facility of a smaller size at the same location (Figure 5). This would include a gaming floor,
restaurants and bars, back of house operations, other ancillary uses, and approximately 580 parking
spaces. The combined building footprint would be approximately 54,400 sf. No multipurpose center
would be developed under Alternative B. Alternative B would also involve the transfer of the 30,020 sf
parcel with an existing single-family residence into trust.
ALTERNATIVE C – TRIBAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING (NON-GAMING ALTERNATIVE)
Alternative C would result in the transfer of the 128-acre parcel into trust and the development of a tribal
government center on the project site, but no gaming facility would be developed (Figure 6). This would
include a government building of approximately 2,500 sf and one surface parking lot consisting of 113
spaces. Alternative C would also involve the transfer of the 30,020 sf parcel with an existing singlefamily residence into trust.
ALTERNATIVE D – KANSAS CASINO EXPANSION
Alternative D would result in the expansion of the existing Prairie Band Casino & Resort in Mayetta,
Kansas (Figure 7). This alternative would include a gaming floor expansion of approximately 10,000 sf
and a 100-room, 3-story hotel addition, as well as associated parking and site improvements.
ALTERNATIVE E – NO ACTION/NO DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVE
The No Action/No Development alternative assumes that existing uses on the 128-acre project site would
not change in the near term, and the parcels would not be taken into federal trust.
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University Rd
Preserve Rd
LEGEND
Property Boundary
¢
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Feet
0
90
180
SOURCE: Friedmutter Group, 2016; USDA aerial photograph, 6/13/2014; AES, 3/15/2016
Prairie Band Gaming Facility Scoping Report / 215517
Figure 4
Alternative A - Proposed Project
University Rd
Preserve Rd
LEGEND
Property Boundary
¢
Ð
N O R TH
!
Feet
0
90
180
SOURCE: Friedmutter Group, 2015; USDA aerial photograph, 6/13/2014; AES, 3/14/2016
Prairie Band Gaming Facility Scoping Report / 215517
Figure 5
Alternative B - Reduced Intensity Gaming Facility
University Rd
Preserve Rd
LEGEND
Property Boundary
¢
Ð
N O R TH
!
Feet
0
90
180
SOURCE: Friedmutter Group, 2015; USDA aerial photograph, 6/13/2014; AES, 3/14/2016
Prairie Band Gaming Facility Scoping Report / 215517
Figure 6
Alternative C - Tribal Government Building
SCALE
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TH
SOURCE: Friedmutter Group, 2015; AES, 3/14/2016
0
60’
120’
Prairie Band Gaming Facility Scoping Report / 215517
Figure 7
Alternative D - Kansas Casino Expansion
SECTION 3.0
Issues Identified During Scoping
SECTION 3.0
ISSUES IDENTIFIED DURING SCOPING
3.1
INTRODUCTION
The following section lists each of the major issue areas raised by members of the public or government
agencies in the scoping process. Specific issues and questions are discussed in each section and will be
further addressed in the EIS. General comments, concerns, and questions not falling within one of the
major issue areas below, or topics that do not fall within the scope of the EIS, are discussed at the end of
the following section under the heading Non-EIS Issues. Additional issues not specifically raised but
which the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) intends to address in the EIS also are discussed. Copies of the
comment letters submitted during the scoping process appear in Appendix D. A transcript of the public
scoping meeting is provided in Appendix E.
3.2
ISSUES IDENTIFIED DURING SCOPING
This section contains a summary of public comments received during the EIS scoping process. These
comment summaries are categorized by issue area. A general summary of the expected scope of the EIS
for each issue area category is also provided.
3.2.1
ALTERNATIVES AND PURPOSE AND NEED
Comments
The following comments regarding alternatives were provided during scoping:
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April 2016
The EIS should clearly state the project purpose and need.
The EIS should identify and study all reasonable alternatives, regardless of whether or not they
are within the jurisdiction of the lead Federal agency.
Each alternative be described and analyzed to a similar extent.
The rationale for eliminating some alternatives from full evaluation in the EIS should be clearly
explained.
The 129 acres should be allowed to remain farmland.
A retail alternative, historic village, or environmental park with educational exhibits, family
activities, and restaurants should be developed instead.
As the Nation already has a casino in Kansas, the purpose and need for another gaming facility
should be addressed.
Permitting procedures should be described for each alternative.
Why does the home need to be put in trust?
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
Scope
Alternatives expected to be analyzed within the EIS are identified and described in Section 2.0. As
discussed therein, a reasonable range of alternatives has been developed in light of the purpose and need
for the Proposed Action. The EIS will provide a complete description of alternatives, list anticipated
agency approvals, and provide an analysis of environmental consequences from project implementation.
3.2.2
GEOLOGY AND SOILS
Comments
The following comments regarding geology and soils were provided during scoping:
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Geologic faults and seismic risks should be evaluated.
The EIS should address the geotechnical characteristics of the site and how they may affect the
design of the building foundation and parking lot.
The EIS should analyze potential impacts to on-site soils.
Scope
The EIS will include a description of the geological, topographic, and soil conditions on the project site,
as well an analysis of potential impacts resulting from all alternatives on these resources. Mitigation
measures, if warranted, will be discussed in the EIS.
3.2.3
WATER QUALITY
Comments
The following comments regarding water quality issues were provided during scoping:
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April 2016
The EIS should address potential impacts to the Troy bedrock valley aquifer.
The EIS should consider the impact of shallow groundwater in limiting the design of stormwater
management and the corresponding impact on water quality.
The EIS should have a stormwater management plan, both for construction and operation.
The EIS should evaluate whether a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permit is necessary.
The EIS should analyze effects from runoff to Indian Creek, Shabbona Lake, and downstream
tributary waters, as well as how these effects will be mitigated during and after construction.
The EIS should address how the project will address the requirements of the DeKalb County
Stormwater Management Ordinance.
The EIS should address effects on the potential freshwater pond wetland, as identified by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Wetlands Mapper, in the east parcel.
The EIS should address the effect of drain tiles on the existing property and how drainage would
be impacted by the proposed construction.
Effects of groundwater withdrawals, especially to municipal systems and customers, should be
addressed.
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
Scope
The EIS will include a description of watersheds, drainage patterns, floodplains, groundwater conditions,
and water quality on the project site and the surrounding vicinity, as well as analysis of potential impacts
resulting from all alternatives on these resources. The EIS will address issues related to site drainage,
stormwater runoff, water consumption, and wastewater generation, including impacts to surface water and
groundwater quality. Mitigation measures to avoid impacts to water quality and water resources, if
warranted, will be recommended in the EIS.
3.2.4
AIR QUALITY
Comments
The following comments regarding air quality issues were provided during scoping:
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The EIS should discuss ambient air conditions, the Clean Air Act, National Air Quality
Standards, and attainment/nonattainment areas.
The EIS should evaluate the effects of increased traffic and visitors creating more exhaust fumes.
The EIS should analyze the feasibility of the following strategies: Leadership in Energy &
Environmental Design (LEED) standards, use of energy-efficient building materials, south-facing
skylights and windows, motion-sensor lighting, solar, wind, and/or geothermal power, Energy
Star certified windows and doors; permeable pavement usage, green stormwater management
practices, energy-efficiency measures (per Executive Order 13693), conversion of areas around
buildings to native habitats, minimization of GHG emissions, and utilization of local and regional
materials and labor for construction and operation.
The EIS should analyze potential effects on climate change and identify implications of climate
change for the environmental effects of each alternative.
The EIS should identify and develop measure to address impacts from climate change, such as
increased intensity and frequency of storm and flood events, on constructed facilities.
Air quality impacts to Shabbona Lake State Park, the nearby camping facility, and Chief
Shabbona Forest Preserve should be addressed.
Scope
The EIS will include a description of the regional climate, existing air quality, and pollutants of concern
in the vicinity of the project site, as well as an analysis of the potential impacts that could result from
implementation of each of the proposed alternatives. Potential impacts associated with greenhouse gases
and climate change will be analyzed within the cumulative section of the EIS. Mitigation measures, if
warranted, will be discussed in the EIS.
3.2.5
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Comments
The following comments regarding biological resources were provided during scoping:
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April 2016
The EIS should address potential on-site impacts to wetlands and evaluate impacts to these.
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
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The EIS should evaluate impacts on Chief Shabbona Forest Preserve and Shabbona State Park,
potentially under Section 4f of the Department of Transportation Act and/or Section 6f of the
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.
The EIS should consider potential impacts on biological resources in adjacent forested land.
As DeKalb County is within the Mississippi Flyway for migratory birds and Shabbona Lake is a
documented stopover location for migratory birds, the EIS should address effects to migratory
bird species.
DeKalb County contains three Federally-listed species (the Indiana Bat, the Northern Long-Eared
Bat, and the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid), and impacts to these species should be addressed.
A formal wetland delineation should be completed and submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers for review and a jurisdictional delineation, which should be included in the EIS.
The Draft EIS should discuss potential for presence of threatened or endangered species or
critical habitat.
The USFWS should be consulted.
Wildlife may move away from the area, and this impact should be considered.
A pair of nesting bald eagles have been seen within 1.5 miles of the site.
Impacts to migrating sandhill cranes, white pelicans, and owls should be addressed.
Potential impacts to waters of the U.S. should be addressed.
Scope
The EIS will include a description of the habitat, waters of the U.S., and wildlife (including federal and
state listed threatened/endangered species) on the project site, as well as the assessment of reasonably
foreseeable impacts of the alternatives on these resources. Mitigation measures, if warranted, will be
discussed in the EIS.
3.2.6
CULTURAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Comments
The following comments regarding cultural and paleontological resources were provided during scoping:
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The EIS should analyze cultural, historical, and/or archaeological resources within the project
site(s).
Because of the site’s relationship to the Potawatomi Nation, a Phase I study of the site should be
considered to look for empirical evidence of archaeological resources related to that tribe or
another.
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency should be consulted.
Scope
The EIS will contain a cultural resources analysis that identifies historical and archaeological resources
located within the project site. Any reasonably foreseeable impacts to historical and archaeological
resources will be analyzed within the EIS. The EIS process will include a cultural records search and
consultation with the Office of the State Archeologist, Native American Heritage Commission, and
consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Mitigation measures,
if warranted, will be discussed in the EIS.
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
3.2.7 SOCIOECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Comments
The following comments regarding socioeconomic issues were provided during scoping:
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The EIS should analyze the potential for increased criminal activity and determine potential
impacts to the surrounding community, including cost of increased demands on the DeKalb
County Sheriff Department and impact on response times.
The EIS should include an economic analysis addressing the potential impacts to local
commercial businesses and restaurants.
The EIS should consider the impact of the proposed project on state and local revenues generated
from other casino properties in the region.
The EIS should discuss the Prairie Band’s agreement with DeKalb County concerning payments
in lieu of taxes, including anticipated effects on the County and other local governments.
The EIS should report the impact of the project on employment levels, including likely pay
grades and where employees would come from.
The EIS should address the potential social impacts of increased gambling availability, including
a potential increase in problem/pathological gambling.
The Economic Impact Study by Marquette Advisors should be included in the EIS.
The EIS should address whether the location of the proposed facility would disproportionately or
adversely affect local residents with lower incomes.
The EIS should analyze the impact of an influx of people to the town on a daily basis, and the
impacts of this on Shabbona’s character.
The EIS should evaluate the available housing stock and/or the impact of building additional
housing, especially multi-family housing.
The facility’s impact on the Shabbona Township General Assistance fund should be evaluated, as
well as if the Prairie Band should contribute to this fund.
The EIS should evaluate the potential for increased crime (including vandalism, robbery, rape,
larceny, burglary, auto theft, aggravated assault, etc).
The agreement between Shabbona and the Nation should be revisited, as it is seven years old, the
Nation has not accepted dram-shop liability, and the Nation has not agreed to participate in statemandated problem-gambling programs.
The EIS should evaluate how much benefit will accrue to local businesses due to the all-inclusive
nature of gaming facilities.
The EIS should evaluate potential impacts from intoxicated drivers.
Increased substance abuse and home foreclosure should be addressed.
Tax impacts to state and local jurisdictions should be evaluated.
Scope
The EIS will include a description of the socioeconomic conditions of the Nation and surrounding
communities. The EIS would analyze reasonably foreseeable and disproportionate impacts of the
alternatives on minority and low-income populations, and analyze socioeconomic issues such as
employment, housing, local business revenue, property value, problem gambling, and crime rates.
Mitigation measures, if warranted, will be discussed in the EIS.
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
3.2.8
TRANSPORTATION
Comments
The following comments related to transportation provided during scoping include:
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The EIS should evaluate the number of access points necessary to avoid congestion and safety
issues.
The EIS should address options for avoiding traffic back-ups on Preserve and University Roads,
as well as the need for turning storage lanes and/or a traffic signal at the intersection of those two
roads.
The EIS should consider safety risks raised by the 90-degree turn on University Road south of the
site.
The EIS should consider traffic impacts on the surrounding roadway network.
As there are nearby at-grade railroad crossings, the EIS should address the anticipated daily
number of trains and the need for grade separations to protect safety and preserve traffic flow.
Preserve Road is paved with a series of layers of sprayed bituminous materials and spread
aggregate (referred to as a cold mix, or, more commonly, seal coat), and, due to a lack of
structural strength, is subject to a weight limit restriction during the spring months that prohibits
vehicle loads of more than 8,000 pounds per axle and/or a gross vehicle weight of more than
33,000 pounds, and this should be reflected in the EIS.
University Road is an unpaved gravel road limited by the same weight restrictions as Preserve
Road.
Transportation needs for the facility should be studied and addressed, in cooperation with
Shabbona Township, including construction needs, possible additional staff time and equipment,
and potential extra snow plowing.
The EIS should acknowledge the use of local roads by large farm equipment and truck traffic.
The EIS should evaluate impacts on bus routes used by the Indian Creek and Hinckley Big Rock
school districts.
There should be an agreed-upon independent company to assess transportation impacts to the
county and township roads, which the Nation should fund.
Vehicular collisions with deer may increase.
Traffic safety issues should be addressed, including road widths, the lack of gates at the railroad
crossing, and a hill to the west that may be unsafe due to poor visibility and narrow roads.
Effects, if any, to road easements should be considered.
The road district in the area does not do 24-hour snow removal.
Damage from construction traffic should be addressed.
Increased traffic impacts to the subdivision near the site should be evaluated.
Scope
The EIS will include a description of the local traffic conditions, including an analysis of existing study
area roadways and intersections with the potential to be significantly impacted by project traffic. In
addition, pedestrian and transit conditions in the vicinity of the project site will be described. The EIS
will additionally provide an estimate of the total daily trips and peak hour trips generated by the
alternatives, and include an analysis of any reasonably foreseeable impacts to study area roadways and
intersections.
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
3.2.9
LAND USE
Comments
The following comments regarding land use were provided during scoping:
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Impacts on local agricultural land should be evaluated.
The EIS should compare use of the site for a casino to the current land use throughout DeKalb
County.
The EIS should analyze the impact of the project on adjacent land uses.
The EIS should address potential conflicts with the nearby nature preserve.
The EIS should analyze the impact of the project on tourism at Shabbona Lake State Park and the
value of nearby fishing habitat.
The EIS should discuss setbacks from natural areas.
The loss of prime agricultural land should be addressed.
Scope
The EIS will identify existing public policies, including zoning and land use regulations, currently
applicable to the project site. The potential for land use conflicts to be caused by the alternatives will also
be included within the EIS. Mitigation measures, if warranted, will be discussed in the EIS.
3.2.10 PUBLIC SERVICES
Comments
The following comments related to public services provided during scoping include:
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April 2016
Effects to municipal water and wastewater/sewer systems should be evaluated in the EIS.
The EIS should discuss the design and operation of the proposed casino as it relates to fire safety.
The EIS should determine whether the local emergency response agency can meet the foreseeable
increased demands of the project.
The EIS should consider potential impacts to the Shabbona Community Fire Protection District.
The EIS should address the agreement between the Nation and the Village of Shabbona to
provide water and wastewater services, and more specifically, funding mechanisms for extending
lines, disturbances anticipated due to these extensions, and the capacities of the water and
wastewater systems to provide service without negatively impacting existing customers.
The EIS should evaluate the need for additional schools, human and social service programs, and
solid waste services that may result from the project, as well as the capability of existing
providers to accommodate additional demand and maintain current service levels.
The impacts to nearby Shabbona Grade School and Indian Creek High School (both within
walking distance from the site) should be addressed.
Tax-exempt employee housing could stress local school districts.
Disaster management and communication with local agencies should be addressed.
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
Scope
The EIS will include a description of the municipal services provided to the project site, including water
supply, wastewater treatment, utilities, solid waste collection and disposal, schools, fire protection, law
enforcement, and emergency medical services. The EIS will provide an analysis of any reasonably
foreseeable impacts to these services within the study area. Mitigation measures, if warranted, will be
discussed in the EIS.
3.2.11 NOISE
Comments
The following comments regarding noise were provided during scoping:
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The EIS should analyze noise impacts to nearby residents and the animal populations in the forest
preserve and state park.
The EIS should include proposed mitigation methods for noise impacts.
The EIS analysis should include the noise impact of increased traffic, plus the effects of 24-hour
operation and indoor/outdoor venues and events.
Scope
The EIS will include a description of the surrounding ambient noise. The EIS will provide an analysis of
any reasonably foreseeable impacts to sensitive noise receptors in the vicinity of the project site.
Mitigation measures, if warranted, will be discussed in the EIS.
3.2.12 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Comments
The following comments regarding hazardous materials were provided during scoping:
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The EIS should address the storage and use of hazardous materials and hazardous wastes during
the construction and operation of the project (including types/volumes of material that may be
used/stored on-site, spill containment, response plans, and potential for exposure of site workers
and the surrounding community).
The EIS should analyze current or past releases of hazardous materials on the property, including
any herbicides, pesticides, or elevated nitrogen and phosphorus levels.
Effects of road salt, lawn chemicals, and vehicle residues should be addressed.
Mitigation techniques, if warranted, should be discussed in the EIS.
Scope
The EIS will include a description of the potential hazardous materials on-site and in the vicinity of the
project site. The EIS will disclose incidences of past and current hazardous materials incidents and
involvements, if any. Additionally, the EIS shall address the potential for impacts associated with
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
hazardous materials, or the use of these materials during construction and operation of the alternatives.
Mitigation measures, if warranted, will be discussed in the EIS.
3.2.13 AESTHETICS
Comments
The following comments related to aesthetics were provided during scoping:
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The EIS should address how the aesthetic of a forest preserve and fishing/bird habitat will be
reconciled with the proposed development.
The visual effects to a rural area dominated by flat, unobstructed farm land should be considered.
The EIS should address impacts due to glare and night-time lighting, especially to natural areas.
The EIS should note sensitive receptors that may require screening mitigation.
There should be no lights projected into the sky, lasers, or obtrusive lights or signage.
Light pollution should be minimized to protect the dark skies, which are valued by both residents
and campers at nearby campsites.
Impacts of increased litter should be addressed.
A guarantee of maintenance and upkeep of the house on the proposed trust parcel should be
secured.
Scope
The EIS will include a description of the project site and surrounding land uses and community character.
The EIS will provide an analysis of any reasonably foreseeable impacts to aesthetics within the study
area. Mitigation measures, if warranted, will be discussed in the EIS.
3.2.14 INDIRECT EFFECTS
Comments
The following comments related to indirect effects were provided during scoping:
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The EIS should address impacts from proposed roadway improvement projects, which may
involve increased highway widths, right-of-way dedication, or property acquisition through
eminent domain.
The EIS should evaluate how the local communities would adjust to increased public use of
roadways and access, public safety needs, and expected impacts thereto.
Scope
The EIS will provide an analysis of any reasonably foreseeable indirect and growth inducing effects from
project implementation. Mitigation measures, if warranted, will be discussed in the EIS.
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
3.2.15 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
Comments
The following comments regarding cumulative impacts were provided during scoping:
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The EIS should evaluate impacts of additional developments resulting from the casino.
The EIS should address how the potential new residential and commercial developments that may
occur would fit into the long-term plans of the Village of Shabbona and DeKalb County.
The EIS should consider cumulative impacts of noise, light, and water pollution on the biological
communities within the adjacent forest preserve and state park.
The EIS should address both short- and long-term effects on property values and tax revenues.
The EIS should address the long-term effects of Indian gaming facilities on local communities,
including a full evaluation of the social costs.
Long-term socioeconomic costs should be evaluated in the EIS.
The State of Illinois’ unstable economy, outward migration, high unemployment, high property
taxes, excessive regulation, high cost of doing business, and massive debt should be considered.
Scope
The EIS will address the cumulative impacts of the Proposed Project and Alternatives in connection with
reasonably foreseeable actions and projects. “Cumulative impacts” refer to the effects of two or more
projects that, when combined, are considerable or compound other environmental effects. The EIS will
discuss cumulative impacts and identify appropriate mitigation measures, as required by NEPA.
3.2.16 NON-EIS ISSUES
Comments
The following comments unrelated to the scope of the EIS were provided during scoping:
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April 2016
The EIS must recognize controlling law regarding the Potawatomi treaties and present-day
entities holding rights under those treaties, as set forth in Citizen Band of Potawatomi Indians of
Okla. V. United States, 391 F.2d 614, 622-23 (Ct. Cl. 1967) and Pottawatomie Nation of Indians
v. United States, 507 F.2d 852, 861 (Ct. Cl. 1974).
No treaty-recognized title was created by the 1829 Treaty of Prairie du Chien granting Chief
Shabehnay use of the land; thus, the land is not a reservation in the sense of the definition in 25
CFR 292.2.
The Nation is unlikely to satisfy the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) standard that it show a need
for the Shabonna parcels, as it currently operates a successful casino-resort in Kansas and the
Shabbona parcels are over several hundred miles from the Nation’s reservation.
The Notice of Intent (NOI) does not list federal approvals or on what basis approvals are being
sought.
FOIA documents have not yet been provided as requested.
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Section 3.0 Issues Identified During Scoping
Scope
The EIS will be prepared in accordance with applicable requirements, including those set out in NEPA
(42 USC 4321 et seq.); the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing
NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508); and the BIA’s NEPA Guidebook (59 IAM 3-H) dated August 2012. Issues
relating to the Nation’s eligibility to acquire trust land in Illinois, and to conduct gaming on that land, are
addressed by the BIA as part of the fee-to-trust application review process.
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SECTION 4.0
EIS Schedule and Public Review
SECTION 4.0
EIS SCHEDULE AND PUBLIC REVIEW
The current schedule anticipates that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be available
for public review in late 2016 or 2017. The public review period for the Draft EIS will be 45 days. A
public hearing on the Draft EIS will be held during the review period. After public comment on the Draft
EIS, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will publish a Final EIS. The Secretary of the Interior will wait
at least 30 days after the Final EIS is released before issuing a decision on the Proposed Action.
April 2016
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
Notice of Intent (NOI)
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 6, 2016 / Notices
information. The purpose of this notice
is to allow for 60 days of public
comment.
DATES:
Comments Due Date: March 7,
2016.
ADDRESSES:
Interested persons are
invited to submit comments regarding
this proposal. Comments should refer to
the proposal by name and/or OMB
Control Number and should be sent to:
Colette Pollard, Reports Management
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street
SW., Room 4176, Washington, DC
20410–5000; telephone 202–402–3400
(this is not a toll-free number) or email
at Colette.Pollard@hud.gov for a copy of
the proposed forms or other available
information. Persons with hearing or
speech impairments may access this
number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–
8339.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Arlette Mussington, Office of Policy,
Programs and Legislative Initiatives,
PIH, Department of Housing and Urban
Development, 451 7th Street SW.,
(L’Enfant Plaza, Room 2206),
Washington, DC 20410; telephone 202–
402–4109 (this is not a toll-free
number). Persons with hearing or
speech impairments may access this
number via TTY by calling the Federal
Information Relay Service at (800) 877–
8339. Copies of available documents
submitted to OMB may be obtained
from Ms. Mussington.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice informs the public that HUD is
seeking approval from OMB for the
information collection described in
section A.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
A. Overview of Information Collection
Title of Information Collection: Public
Housing Operating Subsidy—Appeals.
OMB Approval Number: 2577–0246.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Form Number: N/A.
Description of the need for the
information and proposed use: Under
the operating fund rule, PHAs that elect
to file an appeal of their subsidy
amounts are required to meet the appeal
requirements set forth in subpart G of
the rule. There are four grounds of
appeal in 24 CFR 990.245 under which
PHAs may appeal the amount of their
subsidy. They are: A streamlined
appeal; an appeal for specific local
conditions; an appeal for changing
market conditions; and an appeal to
substitute actual project cost data. To
appeal the amount of subsidy on any
one of these permitted bases of appeal,
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17:32 Jan 05, 2016
Jkt 238001
PHAs submit a written appeal request to
HUD.
Respondents (i.e. affected public):
State, Local or Tribal Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
127.
Estimated Number of Responses: 127.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Hours per Response: 20.
Total Estimated Burdens: 2,489.
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in section A on
the following:
(1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond; including through
the use of appropriate automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comment in response to these
questions.
Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35
as amended.
Dated: December 30, 2015.
Danielle Bastarache,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy,
Programs and Legislative Initiatives.
[FR Doc. 2015–33186 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[167 A2100DD/AAKC001030/
A0A501010.999900]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s
Proposed Trust Acquisition and
Gaming Facility Project, DeKalb
County, Illinois
AGENCY:
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY:
This notice advises the public
that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
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511
as lead agency, and the Prairie Band
Potawatomi Nation (Nation) as
cooperating agency, intend to gather
information necessary to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
in connection with the Nation’s
application for the proposed acquisition
in trust by the United States of
approximately 129 acres for
construction and operation of a gaming
facility in DeKalb County, Illinois. This
notice also opens public scoping to
identify potential issues, concerns and
alternatives to be considered in the EIS.
DATES: The date and location of the
public meeting will be announced at
least 15 days in advance through a
notice in the Daily Chronicle and the
Midweek and on the following Web site:
www.prairiebandeis.com. Written
comments on the DEIS must arrive
within 45 days after EPA publishes its
Notice of Availability.
ADDRESSES: You may mail or handdeliver written comments to Diane
Rosen, Regional Director, Bureau of
Indian Affairs, Midwest Region, Norman
Pointe II Building, 5600 W. American
Blvd., Suite 500, Bloomington,
Minnesota 55437. Please include your
name, return address, and ‘‘NOI
Comments, Prairie Band Project’’ on the
first page of your written comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott Doig, Acting Regional
Environmental Scientist, at the address
above, or at telephone (612) 725–4514,
email scott.doig@bia.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Nation submitted a request to the
Department of the Interior for the
placement of approximately 129 acres of
fee land in trust by the United States
upon which the Nation would construct
a class II gaming facility. The property
is located in DeKalb County just
southeast of the town of Shabbona, IL.
The gaming facility would consist of a
class II gaming area, restaurants and
lounges, a multi-purpose room that
could be used for entertainment,
meetings, and other purposes, and
surface parking for cars and buses. The
property is comprised of two parcels: an
approximately 128-acre parcel currently
used for farming (Parcel ID Index 13–
23–200–001), on which the gaming
facility would be built, and a 30,020
square foot parcel on which a house sits
(Parcel ID Index 13–23–128–002). The
purpose of the proposed action is to
acquire land in trust that was
historically reserved for Chief Shab-ehnay and his Band of Potawatomis by
treaty, and to facilitate economic
development so that the Tribal
government can better provide housing,
health care, education, cultural
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06JAN1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
512
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 6, 2016 / Notices
programs, and other services to its
members.
The proposed action encompasses the
various Federal approvals which may be
required to implement the Tribe’s
proposed economic development
project, including approval of the
Nation’s fee-to-trust application. The
EIS will identify and evaluate issues
related to these approvals, and will also
evaluate a range of reasonable
alternatives, including a no action
alternative. Other possible alternatives
currently under consideration are a
reduced-intensity gaming facility
alternative, an alternate-use (nongaming) alternative and an off-site
alternative. The range of issues and
alternatives may be revised based on
comments received during the scoping
process.
Areas of environmental concern
preliminarily identified for analysis in
the EIS include land resources; water
resources; air quality; noise; biological
resources; cultural/historical/
archaeological resources; resource use
patterns; traffic and transportation;
public health and safety; hazardous
materials and hazardous wastes; public
services and utilities; socioeconomics;
environmental justice; visual resources/
aesthetics; and cumulative, indirect, and
growth-inducing effects. Additional
information, including a map of the
project site, is available by contacting
the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION section of this notice.
Public Comment Availability:
Comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the BIA
address shown in the ADDRESSES
section, during regular business hours, 8
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except holidays. Before
including your address, telephone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask in your comment that
your personal identifying information
be withheld from public review, the BIA
cannot guarantee that this will occur.
Authority: This notice is published in
accordance with sections 1503.1 and
1506.6 of the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500
through 1508) implementing the
procedural requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321–4345 et seq.),
and the Department of the Interior
National Environmental Policy Act
Regulations (43 CFR part 46), and is in
the exercise of authority delegated to the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:32 Jan 05, 2016
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Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs by
209 DM 8.
Dated: December 21, 2015.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015–33247 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
comments to the RAC. Each formal RAC
meeting will also have time allocated for
hearing public comments. Depending on
the number of persons wishing to
comment and time available, the time
for individual oral comments may be
limited.
Authority: 43 CFR 1784.4–2.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[FR Doc. 2015–33270 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am]
[LLMTB07900 15XL1109AF L10100000
PH0000 LXSIANMS0000 MO# 4500089261]
Notice of Public Meeting; Western
Montana Resource Advisory Council
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
Notice of Public Meeting.
ACTION:
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Western
Montana Resource Advisory Council
(RAC) will meet as indicated below.
DATES: The Western Montana Resource
Advisory Council meeting will be held
January 27, 2016 in Butte, Montana. The
meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the
Butte Field Office conference room,
with a 30-minute public comment
period starting at 11:30 a.m., and will
adjourn at 3:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: BLM’s Butte Field Office,
106 N. Parkmont, Butte, MT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Abrams, Western Montana
Resource Advisory Council Coordinator,
Butte Field Office, 106 North Parkmont,
Butte, MT 59701, 406–533–7617,
dabrams@blm.gov. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
to contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FIRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
to leave a message or question with the
above individual. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 15member council advises the Secretary of
the Interior through the BLM on a
variety of management issues associated
with public land management in
Montana. During this meeting the
council will discuss several topics,
including a briefing on weed treatments
in the BLM’s Western Montana District,
and updates from the BLM’s Butte,
Missoula and Dillon field offices. All
RAC meetings are open to the public.
The public may present written
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Richard M. Hotaling,
District Manager, Western Montana District.
BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Antitrust Division
Notice Pursuant to the National
Cooperative Research and Production
Act of 1993—Cooperative Research
Group on Mechanical Stratigraphy and
Natural Deformation in Eagle Ford
Formation and Equivalent Boquillas
Formation, South-Central and West
Texas (Eagle Ford II)
Notice is hereby given that, on
December 7, 2015, pursuant to section
6(a) of the National Cooperative
Research and Production Act of 1993,
15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. (‘‘the Act’’),
Cooperative Research Group on
Mechanical Stratigraphy and Natural
Deformation in Eagle Ford Formation
and Equivalent Boquillas Formation,
South-Central and West Texas (‘‘Eagle
Ford II’’) has filed written notifications
simultaneously with the Attorney
General and the Federal Trade
Commission disclosing changes in its
membership. The notifications were
filed for the purpose of extending the
Act’s provisions limiting the recovery of
antitrust plaintiffs to actual damages
under specified circumstances.
Specifically, BHP Billiton Petroleum
(Americas) Inc., has changed its name to
BHP Billiton Petroleum (Deepwater)
Inc., Houston, TX.
No other changes have been made in
either the membership or planned
activity of the group research project.
Membership in this group research
project remains open, and Eagle Ford II
intends to file additional written
notifications disclosing all changes in
membership.
On July 1, 2015, Eagle Ford II filed its
original notification pursuant to section
6(a) of the Act. The Department of
Justice published a notice in the Federal
E:\FR\FM\06JAN1.SGM
06JAN1
APPENDIX B
Newspaper Notices
APPENDIX C
List of Commenters
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Fee‐to‐Trust and Gaming Facility Project
Scoping Comments Received
Log #
Name
Title/Position
Agency/Organization
Date Written Comments
Agencies
A‐1
James A. Johnson
A‐2
Kenneth A. Westlake
A‐3
A‐4
Hartford Shegonee
James A. Johnson
Shabbona Township
Supervisor
Chief, NEPA Implementation Section, Office of United States Environmental Protection Agency, Enforcement and Region 5
Compliance Assurance
Vice‐Chairman
Forest County Potawatomi Community
Supervisor
Shabbona Township
1/27/2016
2/16/2016
2/22/2016
2/20/2016
Groups/Organizations/Businesses
G‐1
G‐2
Craig E. Nelson
Paul J. Borek
G‐3
June L. DeHart
G‐4
Peter Dordal, Edmond Leeney, Robert Purdy, John Diehl
Reverend/Pastor
Executive Director
Calvary Lutheran Church
1/26/2016
DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation
1/18/2016
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP on behalf of Isle of Capri 2/19/2016
Casinos
DeKalb County Taxpayers Against the Casino
2/19/2016
Public/Individual
P‐1
Ronald Stefanskie
P‐2
Leon Ardelean
P‐3
P‐4
P‐5
P‐6
P‐7
P‐8
P‐9
P‐10
P‐11
P‐12
P‐13
P‐14
P‐15
P‐16
P‐17
P‐18
P‐19
P‐20
P‐21
P‐22
Meryl Greer Domina, PhD
Jerry Foster
Beth Manson
Katelynn Merrill
Barb Nelson
Stephen Reid
Roy W. Salecker
Clint Sands
Heather Sands
Dennis R. Sands
Kathleen M. Sands
Joy Fay
Ken DeJong
Lesa Clanin
Steve Larson
Tiffany Dallas
Tony North II
Leon Oleson
Gail Loes
Pam Challand
1/27/2016
Former Shabbona Village Trustee
1/26/2016
1/26/2016
1/26/2016
1/26/2016
1/26/2016
1/26/2016
1/26/2016
1/26/2016
1/26/2016
1/26/2016
1/19/2016
1/19/2016
1/14/2016
1/28/2016
1/18/2016
2/2/2016
2/2/2016
2/2/2016
2/1/2016
1/21/2016
1/19/2016
Page 1 of 3
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Fee‐to‐Trust and Gaming Facility Project
Scoping Comments Received
Log #
P‐23
P‐24
P‐25
P‐26
P‐27
P‐28
P‐29
P‐30
P‐31
P‐32
P‐33
P‐34
P‐35
P‐36
P‐37
P‐38
P‐39
P‐40
P‐41
P‐42
P‐43
P‐44
P‐45
P‐46
P‐47
P‐48
P‐49
P‐50
P‐51
P‐52
P‐53
P‐54
P‐55
P‐56
P‐57
Name
Title/Position
Agency/Organization
Debra Wild
Frank Tecumseh
Christopher Lauzen
Kelly Nehring
Richardson
Denis P. Bearrows
Brian and Kenlyn Bialas
John and Jodi Diehl and family
Bryan Spears
Kristen Weeks
Suzann Alde
Alexander Johnson
Allen Berg
Ardith Berg
Sandra and Rich Hensley
Carol A. Johnson
Janet Johnson
Vernon Johnson
Edith Reyns
Linda J. Gletty
Randy D. Holle
Christine J. Johnson
Barb Nelson
Craig E. Nelson
Eloise Keast
Gene Larson
Bonnie Mack
Lenny Mack
Reid McAllister
Charles Thorsen
Joyce Thorsen
Gerald Wahlstrom
Orrie and Beatrice Johnson
Wilma Johnson
Pam Whitcraft
2/10/2016
2/10/2016
1/25/2016
2/12/2016
2/13/2016
2/15/2016
2/15/2016
2/17/2016
2/16/2016
2/16/2016
2/11/2016
2/12/2016
2/16/2016
2/16/2016
2/16/2016
2/16/2016
2/16/2016
2/16/2016
2/16/2016
2/17/2016
2/19/2016
2/19/2016
2/19/2016
2/19/2016
2/22/2016
2/22/2016
2/22/2016
2/22/2016
2/22/2016
2/22/2016
2/22/2016
2/22/2016
2/25/2016
2/25/2016
2/25/2016
Public Hearing Speakers
1
2
3
4
5
6
Joyce Guerrero
Thomas Wabnum
Hattie Mitchell
Claudia Hicks
Lane Pickwell
Lance McGill
Date Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Mayor/Village President
Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation
Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation
Shabbona
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150
Page 2 of 3
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Fee‐to‐Trust and Gaming Facility Project
Scoping Comments Received
Log #
Name
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Dave Cargill
Matt Swanson
John Kindt
Joy Fay
Tammy Leeney
Ed Leeney
Peter Dordal
Frank Ottengehedme
Lenny Mack
Jeff Connor
Barb Nelson
Robery Purdy
Craig Nelson
Audra Boehne
Thomas Ekle
John Hart
Dirk Enger
Ruben Collazo
Kathy Sands
Denny Sands
Doug Faivre
28
Kathy Gilroy
29
30
31
John Ecker
Suzanne Billman
Peg Dordal
Title/Position
Agency/Organization
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ‐364
DeKalb County Building Trades Council
President
Director
Chief
DeKalb County Taxpayers Against the Casino
DeKalb County Taxpayers Against the Casino
Shabbona Fire Protection District
Mayor
Waterman
President
Ironworkers Local 393
Bricklayers International Union
Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addition Problems/Northern Illinois Anti‐Gambling Task Force
Waterman/Shabbona Business Association
President
Page 3 of 3
Date APPENDIX D
Comments Received
AGENCY COMMENTS
From: tresitect@aol.com [mailto:tresitect@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2016 3:41 PM
To: scott.doig@bia.gov
Subject: Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Proposed Trust Acquisition
Mr. Doig:
As a matter of clarification related to the above reference action, please provide me with a brief
description of what the status of these parcels of land will be if the application is granted in full. By that I
mean, will this area be treated the same as a reservation where the land has a sovereign nation status or
will this land be treated the same as any federal park or building site?
I am asking this because I am the Supervisor of Shabbona Township, which is the government body that
owns and maintains the only two roads that can be used to access the site of the new PBPN facility. I
want to make sure that my comments are accurate and reasonable relative to the situation that will be
present.
Please contact me if you need additional information. Thank you for this information.
James A. Johnson, Supervisor
Shabbona Township
P.O. Box 312
Shabbona, IL 60550
Home:
Cell:
815-824-2497
815-751-8104
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 5
77 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD
CHICAGO, IL 60604-3590
REPLY TO THE ATTENTION OF
E-19J
c
Diane Rosen
Bureau of Indian Affairs - Midwest Region
Norman Pointe II Building
5600 W. American Blvd., Suite 500
Bloomington, Minnesota 55437
RE: Notice of Intent to conduct scoping and to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's Proposed Trust Acquisition and
Gaming Facility Project; Shabbona, DeKalb County, Illinois
Dear Ms. Rosen:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reviewed the Federal Register (FR) Notice dated
January 6, 2016, considering the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's (Nation) application to the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for the proposed acquisition in trust by the United States of
approximately 129 acres for construction and operation of a gaming facility in DeKalb County,
Illinois. In addition, EPA staff attended BIA' s scoping meeting held in Malta, Illinois, on
January 26, 2016. This letter provides our scoping comments on the Federal Register notice
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEP A), the Council on Environmental
Quality's NEPA Implementing Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and Section 309 ofthe Clean
Air Act.
The Nation has submitted a request to the BIA for the placement of approximately 129 acres of
fee land in trust by the United States upon which the Nation would construct a Class II gaming
facility. The property is located in DeKalb County, Illinois, just southeast of the town of
Shabbona. The gaming facility would consist of a Class II gaming area, restaurants and lounges,
a multi-purpose room that could be used for entertainment, meetings, and other purposes, and
surface parking for cars and buses. The property is comprised of two parcels: an approximately
128-acre parcel currently used for farming (Parcel ID Index 13-23-200-001), on which the
gaming facility would be built, and a 30,020 square foot parcel on which a house sits (Parcel ID
Index 13-23-128-002). The purpose ofthe proposed action is to acquire land in trust that was
historically reserved for Chief Shab-eh-nay and his Band ofPotawatomis by treaty, and to
facilitate economic development so that the Tribal government can better provide housing, health
care, education, cultural programs, and other services to its members.
The proposed action encompasses the various Federal approvals which may be required to
implement the Tribe's proposed economic development project, including approval of the
Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oi l Based Inks on 100% Recycled Paper (100% Post-Consumer)
Nation's fee-to-trust application. The forthcoming Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will
identify and evaluate issues related to these approvals, and will also evaluate a range of
reasonable alternatives, including a no action alternative. Other possible alternatives currently
under consideration are a reduced-intensity gaming facility alternative, an alternate-use
(nongaming) alternative, and an off-site alternative. The range of issues and alternatives may be
revised based on comments received during the scoping process.
To help determine the scope and significance of issues to be addressed in the preparation of the
Draft EIS, EPA's scoping comments are as follows.
PURPOSE AND NEED/PROJECT INFORMATION/ALTERNATIVES
• The purpose and need statement in the Draft EIS should be specific enough that the range of
alternatives can be evaluated in terms of how well they address purpose and need, but not so
narrow that they pre-select a single alternative. Furthermore, a project's purpose and need
must justify the impacts associated with a Proposed Project.
Recommendation: The Draft EIS should clearly articulate the project purpose and
need(s). Specific purpose and need statements should be provided.
•
A preliminary site plan was shown at the January 26, 2016, scoping meeting; however, this
preliminary site plan figure is not available on the project website 1. Proposing a specific site
plan appears to skip the important step of developing a range of alternatives (including a No
Build alternative) to meet a specific project purpose and need. By providing a preliminary
site plan before the Draft EIS is published, it may lead the public to believe that a decision
has already been made. Such a "decide and defend" approach would circumvent the NEP A
process.
Recommendation: The Draft EIS should identify and study all reasonable alternatives,
regardless of whether or not they are within the jurisdiction of the lead Federal agency.
Each alternative should be described and analyzed to a similar extent, so that their ability
to meet purpose and need and their impacts can be easily compared. If some alternatives
are considered but not carried forward for full analysis in the Draft EIS, the rationale for
retaining some alternatives and dropping others should clearly explained.
INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
• In addition to direct impacts on the environment, this project would be expected to have
indirect and cumulative impacts. Indirect impacts are impacts that occur because the project
is undertaken. Indirect impacts could include (but are not limited to) nearby signage; the need
for road and infrastructure upgrades; and commercial land development and incidental
growth in nearby communities, stimulated by the presence of the gaming facility, in areas
that otherwise would have remained in farmland or as a natural landscape. Cumulative
impacts include the following: direct impacts from the project; indirect impacts from required
and future development; and other impacts from past, present, and reasonably foreseeable
development that would occur anyway with or without the project.
1
http://www.prairiebandeis.com
2
Recommendations: The Draft EIS should evaluate both indirect and cumulative effects
upon the natural and human environment, not just the direct effects of the project itself.
The Draft EIS should also thoroughly evaluate how the local communities would adjust
for increased public use of roadways and access, public safety needs, and the expected
impacts therein. This should also include the long-term effects of Indian gaming
facilities on local communities, including a full evaluation of the social costs.
GREEN BUILDING PRACTICES
• BIA can reduce environmental impacts and promote public health by incorporating green
building strategies into the proposed project. Such strategies facilitate long term savings in
cost, energy, and water usage.
Recommendations: EPA recommends that the Draft EIS include the following:
o A commitment to achieve Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)
certification at the platinum level (or design for net-zero energy usage) for all new
buildings associated with the project. Design should include the use of energyefficient building materials, such as south-facing skylights and windows, motion
sensored lighting, solar, wind, and/or geothermal power, and Energy Star certified
windows and doors.
• At a minimum, EPA encourages BIA to commit to analyze the strengths and
feasibility of these strategies;
o A commitment that any proposed roads, parking lots, sidewalks, or other surfaces
slated for driving or walking should be constructed using permeable pavement to
reduce runoff;
o Identification of, and commitment to implementation of, opportunities for green
stormwater management practices, such as rainwater harvesting, bioswales,
permeable pavement, and green roofs;
o A discussion to what extent BIA would require energy efficiency measures,
greenhouse gas reductions, and other sustainability measures, per Executive Order
13693; and
o A commitment that areas around all new buildings associated with the project which
are not planned for operations be considered for conversion to native habitats,
increasing the area which can be beneficially used for wildlife, stormwater infiltration
or detention, and aesthetics, among other functions; and
o Identification of opportunities to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
associated with the project's direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts, to the extent
feasible;
o Consideration of both the potential effects of each alternative on climate change, as
indicated by each alternative's estimated GHG emissions, and identification of the
implications of climate change for the environmental effects of each alternative; and
o Identification and development of adaptation measures to address impacts from
climate change on constructed facilities, such as increased intensity and frequency of
storm and flood events.
3
NATURAL RESOURCES
• The project location directly abuts the Chief Shabbona Forest Preserve (located southwest of
the project location). The Forest Preserve itself directly abuts the Shabbona Lake State
Recreation Area. There were many concerns voiced during the January 26, 2016, scoping
meeting that construction of a gaming facility at the proposed location would adversely
impact both the forest preserve and the state park due to increased noise, litter, stormwater
runoff, and other factors.
Recommendation: The Draft EIS should discuss setbacks from, and potential direct,
indirect, and/or cumulative impacts to these natural areas.
•
A formal wetland/Waters of the U.S. delineation will be necessary to know definitively if any
wetlands and streams are located within the project footprint. Review of U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) topographic maps shows a blue line (unnamed) tributary to Shabbona Lake
(Indian Creek) crossing the property. If this channel, or any other channels on the property,
have a defined streambed and streambank, they will likely be regulated as Waters of the U.S.,
and any fill into, relocation of, or culverting of these channels will trigger Clean Water Act
Section 404 permitting and Section 401 water quality certification.
Recommendation: A formal wetland delineation should be completed in order to know
definitively where wetlands, streams, and other regulated Waters ofthe United States or
Waters of the State are located. This delineation should be submitted to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, Regulatory Branch for review and a
jurisdictional determination. EPA strongly recommends that this delineation be
completed before, and included in the Draft EIS.
THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
• DeKalb County is within range of several Federally-threatened and endangered species,
including the Indiana bat and the Northern long-eared bat.
Recommendation: The Draft EIS should discuss the potential for the presence of
Federally-listed threatened or endangered species or critical habitat within the project
area. Coordination efforts regarding such species undertaken with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), including correspondence to, and received from, USFWS,
should be discussed in the Draft EIS and included with the document.
OTHER ISSUES
• During the January 26, 2016, scoping meeting, BIA discussed the release of a 'scoping
report,' to include all comment letters received during the scoping timeframe, and all spoken
comments received during the January scoping meeting. EPA assumes this report would also
include BIA's responses to comments received.
Recommendation: The scoping report should be included in the Draft EIS. EPA requests
a copy of this report.
4
•
A commenter at the January 26, 2016, scoping meeting mentioned that an Economic Impact
Study had been completed by Marquette Advisors.
Recommendation: This economic study should be included in the Draft EIS.
EPA appreciates the opportunity to provide scoping comments, and we look forward to
reviewing the Draft EIS when it is released for public comment. Please send a, hard copy and a
CD to the EPA Region 5 office when the document is published. If you have any questions
about this letter, please contact the project lead, Ms. Liz Pelloso, PWS, at 312-886-7425 or via
email at pelloso.elizabeth@epa.gov.
Sincerely,
Kenneth A. Westlake, Chief
NEP A Implementation Section
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
cc (via email):
Scott Doig, BIA
Bibiana Alvarez, Analytical Environmental Services
5
GROUP/ORGANIZATION/BUSINESS COMMENTS
PUBLIC/INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS
From: Ronald Stefanskie <w9zih1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jan 27, 2016 at 10:06 AM
Subject: PRAIRIE BAND PROJECT
To: SCOTT.DOIG@bia.gov
DEAR SCOTT
I ATTENDED THE MEETING YESTERDAY IN MALTA ILL. CONCERNING THE
GAMING FACILITY PROJECT AND LISTENED TO ALL THE COMMENTS PRO AND
CON AND AM COMPLETELY CONVINCED THAT IT WOULD BE A TERRABLE IDEA
FOR IT TO BE PUT IN AT THE SMALL VILLAGE OF SHABBONA ILL. PLEASE A NO
VOTE ON THIS PROJECT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY MANY IN THIS
AREA.
RONALD STEFANSKIE
17913 WILLRETT ROAD
MALTA ILLINOIS
60150
EMAIL W9ZIH1@GMAIL.COM
On Wed, Feb 10, 2016 at 8:38 PM, frank tecumseh <franktea@hotmail.com> wrote:
Frank Tecumseh
157 Jacaranda Dr
Battle Creek, MI 49015
NOI Comments, Prairie Band Project
Mr. Doig, E.P. Specialist,
I had the pleasure of attending the Public Scoping Meeting at Kishwaukee College on January
26th. This email is my written comments regarding the proposed Prairie Band Project. Growing
up I had the pleasure of spending my summers at the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation,
before the casino was built. The reservation at that time had little to offer and environmentally
speaking, was in a state of disarray. Dirt roads, trash and any type of environmental programs
were minimal at best. Since the gaming operation was introduced the reservation has take
immense strides environmentally. There are formal programs to improve the environment,
educate the community and to properly take care of the land. Recycling programs, traditional
gardening, erosion control and wildlife management are a few of the numerous programs the
tribe had implemented to improve the environment.
The Potawatomi coming back to Shabbona is the best thing that could happen to that community
and environment. What the tribe has done in Kansas would be done at Shabbona. I've driven
around DeKalb county several times and it appears to me that they are having environmental
issues already. The Potawatomi would preserve Shabbona park and I would hope purchase
additional lands and return them to their natural beauty. Currently, there are farms as far as my
eyes could see around Shabbona park, if the environment impact is a concern, then a decision to
take care of it must be made. The Potawatomi would do that, as they have done before in
Kansas.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Tecumseh
---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Timber Edge Farm <timberedge@indianvalley.com>
Date: Fri, Feb 12, 2016 at 2:30 PM
Subject: NOI Comments, Prairie Band Project
To: scott.doig@bia.gov
NOI Comments, Prairie Band Project
Kelly S. Nehring
Area Resident
5171 Shabbona Grove Road
Shabbona, IL 60550
I feel there are so many concerns regarding the request of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s
Proposed Trust Acquisition for a Gaming Facility “Project”. Loss of wildlife habitat and loss of
fertile farm land along with the negative impact a gaming facility of any type, on the surrounding
communities will be extremely detrimental to our area.
The upheaval and ultimate loss of habitation for area wildlife is of great concern. With each loss
of particular species, it in turn effects the environment. With urban land sprawl, we are
effectively losing wildlife habitat, productive farm land, and ultimately the balance in our
ecosystem. Recent studies in Yellowstone have shown this through the reintegration of the wolf
population and how it not only affected the wildlife population, but also the plant life as
well. Future loss of wildlife habitat has the potential to reduce plant population just as much as
global warming and pollution.
The 1996 Farm Bill protects prime agricultural land from being developed for non- agricultural
usage. This bill is supposed to keep highly productive lands from being overtaken by
urbanization. However, a large corporation (or in this instance a sovereign nation) can come to a
small rural community and, within a relatively short amount of time, have an agricultural area
“re-zoned” so it is able to be used for urban development. The ability for a Nation to throw their
money around and get exactly what they want is unjustified. Prime agricultural land is hard
enough to come by for farmers. Now farmers have to compete with other entities which will
spend whatever it takes to get a prime marketing location. (The approximate value of the land in
question is in the neighborhood of $1,280,000 (about $10,000/acre in our area). The tribe paid
over $8.8 million, almost 7x the value.)
The projected world population growth is expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050, and the Food
and Agricultural Organization says that world food production will need to rise by 70%.
We lose nearly 50 acres of farmland every hour – and once farms are bulldozed and paved over,
that land is gone forever. As we lose farmland at a rapid rate, we face a future where our ability
to feed our families and ourselves is seriously compromised, let alone the ability to contribute to
helping feed the population growth around the globe.
Please do not allow the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation to acquire the land into trust therefore
giving them the ability to ultimately impact a resource that cannot ever be replaced or
regained. There are much more appropriate areas for a facility of this type to be built that would
not negatively impact one of our world’s greatest resources, the land.
On Sat, Feb 13, 2016 at 10:59 AM, Kim Richardson <kimr415@aol.com> wrote:
Richardson
Hinckley, IL 60520
We have a family farm very close to where the Prairie Band wants
to build a casino. I believe it would change the small, quiet town of Shabbona we are all used
to. We would have so much traffic, garbage in our ditches, noise and crime. If you have ever
been around a casino - you will have noticed the amount of police and private security. There is
a reason for that. We will protest everyday to ensure that our small town community stays as it
is - without a casino.
Sent from my iPad
Scot Doig
Environmental Protection Specialist
NOI Comments, Prairie Band Project
My family farm is within eyesight of where the Prairie Band wants to put a casino. We
oppose this casino whole heartedly. My elderly mother still lives there and we don’t
want her living next to this. My husband and I grew up in Shabbona and stayed in this
community for a reason – a small town feel. We wanted to raise our children in a small
town and they have chosen to stay here too after college. Shabbona will never be the
same if this casino is allowed to be built. It will bring crime, family troubles and money
troubles for the residents in our county
It will be noisy, lots of traffic with it being a 24/7 hour facility. I feel this is not the right
place to put a casino right next to two very nice nature parks (Shabbona Forest
Preserve and Shabbona State Park). There are many deer and other wild life that will
be harmed because of this. There is also a pair of Bald eagles within 1.5 miles from the
casino land. I have lived here all my life and there has never been eagles nesting. I
feel this would not be good for the environment to put this facility up with all the wild life
around.
Please do not allow this casino to be built.
Thank you,
Brian & Kenlyn Bialas
6183 Shabbona Grove Road
Earlville, IL 60518
From: Jodi Diehl <jodiehl73@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 7:46 PM
Subject: NOI comments Prairie Band Project
To: "scott.doig@bia.gov" <scott.doig@bia.gov>
Dear BIA
We live on Preserve Rd, three houses East of University Rd. We have lived here since 2000 with
our four children, three that still attend Indian Creek Schools. The proposed Indian Gaming
facility would really affect us everyday of our lives. Now our road is a quiet 1 1/2 lane gravel
country road very that few people travel, unless you live nearby. It's peaceful and we see a lot of
wildlife. We frequently travel past the proposed casino building site when we drive into town or
go to the schools. The increase in traffic that the casino would bring is a concern. These roads
could not handle large volumes of traffic.
Sometimes our family bikes or jogs from our home to the Chief Shabbona Forest Preserve and
we do not see anyone, but that would all change. It would no longer be safe to jog or ride along
this road. We worry about traffic, crime, and noise 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our road isn't
wide enough in spots to handle traffic that isn't familiar with the area. The railroad tracks don't
have gates at the crossing, the hill to the west of us is unsafe due to poor visibility and being very
narrow. We know most of the traffic would be diverted towards Route 30, but not all visitors
would go that way.
We moved out here for the peaceful, rural lifestyle, that would all be gone if you approve of this
project. Please do not support this development, it's not the right spot for something of this size.
This is not a good location for a casino.
Thank you for your consideration,
John, Jodi Diehl and family
5543 Preserve Rd.
SHABBONA, IL 60550
Sent from my iPad
APPENDIX E
Scoping Meeting Sign-In Sheet and Transcript
SCOPING MEETING SIGN-IN SHEETS
SCOPING MEETING TRANSCRIPT
· · · · · · ·U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
· · · · · · · ··BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
··
··IN RE:· · · · · · · · · · · · ··)
· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ··)
··PRAIRIE BAND POTAWATOMI NATION'S)SCOPING HEARING
··PROPOSED TRUST ACQUISITION AND··)
··GAMING FACILITY PROJECT· · · · ·)Kishwaukee College
··DEKALB COUNTY, ILLINOIS· · · · ·)Malta, Illinois
· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ··)January 26, 2016
··
··
··
··
· · · ·Public hearing commenced, pursuant to
··
··assignment, at 6:30 p.m.
··
··
··
··
··
··APPEARANCES:
··
· · · ·SCOTT DOIG,
··
· · · · · ··Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Region
··
· · · ·BIBIANA ALVAREZ,
··
· · · · · ··Analytical Environmental Services
··
··
··
··
··
··
··
··
··
··
··
··REPORTER:
··
· · · ·Callie S. Bodmer,
· · · ·Certified Shorthand Reporter,
· · · ·Dixon, Illinois
In Totidem Verbis, LLC (ITV)
815.453.2260
Page 2
·1· · · · · · · · · · · · ·INDEX
·
· ·
·2· · · ·Speaker· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ··Page
· ·
·3· ·Bibiana Alvarez. . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ··5
·Joyce Guerrero . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·14
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·4· ·Thomas Wabnum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·17
·Hattie Mitchell. . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·20
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·5· ·Claudia Hicks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·23
·Lane Pickwell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·25
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·6· ·Lance McGill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·27
·Dave Cargill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·28
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·7· ·Matt Swanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·28
·John Kindt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·30
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·8· ·Joy Fay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·32
·Tammy Leeney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·33
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·9· ·Edmond Leeney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·35
·Peter Dordal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·38
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10· ·Frank Ottenghedme. . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·40
·Lenny Mack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·41
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·Barb Nelson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·44
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·Craig Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·48
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·Thomas Ekle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·52
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·Dirk Enger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·54
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·Kathy Sands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·58
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16· ·Denny Sands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·59
·Doug Faivre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·62
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17· ·Kathy Gilroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·63
·John Ecker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·66
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18· ·Suzanne Billman. . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·68
·Peg Dordal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .· ·70
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· · · · ·MR. DOIG:··Good evening, everybody.··Can
· ··everybody hear me?··Hear me coming through?··It
· ··sounds like it.
· · · · ·My name is Scott Doig.··I'm the regional
· ··environmental scientist for the Bureau of Indian
· ··Affairs, Midwest Region.··We're located in
· ··Bloomington, Minnesota.··I'm the project lead
· ··for this project.
· · · · ·The purpose of tonight's meeting is a
· ··scoping meeting for the Prairie Band Potawatomi
· ··Nation's proposed trust acquisition and gaming
· ··facility project in DeKalb County, Illinois.
· ··The purpose of the scoping meeting is to gather
· ··comments from the public and elected officials
· ··regarding the environmental impact statement,
· ··and it gives the Bureau of Indian Affairs an
· ··idea of the types of issues that we should be
· ··looking at in the environmental impact statement
· ··other than some of the typical ones that we
· ··will, of course, look at regardless:··clean
· ··water -- compliance with the Clean Water Act,
· ··Clean Air Act, those kinds of activities.
· · · · ·I have with me tonight Bibiana Alvarez.
· ··She is the consultant that's assisting us,
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· ··working for Analytical Environmental Services.
· ··She's from California and was stunned by the
· ··weather today, so bear with her.
· · · · ·She'll -- she will give kind of an
· ··overview of the National Environmental Policy
· ··Act process, and that's the law that drives the
· ··need for the environmental impact statement.
· ··She'll also talk briefly about kind of the
· ··process of the meeting, how we're going to run
· ··it this evening.··The short of it is, there's
· ··going to be essentially -- if you haven't signed
· ··up and you want to, please sign up to give us
· ··your comments.··Each person will have three
· ··minutes to give those comments, and we try to
· ··keep it at three minutes, so -- just to, you
· ··know, keep it moving.··And if you are not able
· ··to give all of your comments within that three
· ··minutes, we really encourage you to provide any
· ··additional written comments.
· · · · ·Unfortunately, one of the things we -· ··that we don't do tonight is we don't really have
· ··a question-and-answer session.··We did see a
· ··sign on the way in that said question-and-answer
· ··session.··I'm certainly willing after the
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· ··meeting if you have any questions regarding the
· ··process itself, I can answer those.··We have a
· ··court reporter, and so we take all of the
· ··comments and through kind of a long process we
· ··go through and we answer each of the questions
· ··or concerns that you have in a written document.
· · · · ·I'm going to turn it over to Bibiana, and
· ··she's going to give a short description of the
· ··process and we'll get the meeting started.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thank you, Scott.
· · · · ·Can everyone hear me okay?
· · · · ·As Scott mentioned, my name is Bibiana
· ··Alvarez.··I'm with Analytical Environmental
· ··Services, and we are the environmental
· ··consultant working with the Bureau of Indian
· ··Affairs.
· · · · ·We are here tonight to take public
· ··comments on the scope of the environmental
· ··impact statement, or EIS, for the proposed
· ··transfer of approximately 129 acres of land into
· ··federal trust and the subsequent development of
· ··a tribal gaming facility by the Prairie Band
· ··Potawatomi Nation within the Shabbona Village of
· ··DeKalb County.··This is a scoping meeting, is
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· ··intended to ask the public what is important to
· ··address in detail in the EIS.··The BIA needs to
· ··understand the key issues that are important to
· ··both the general public and the government
· ··agencies.
· · · · ·I'd like to take a moment to recognize
· ··several elected officials in attendance tonight,
· ··including Joyce Guerrero, the Tribal Council
· ··vice chairperson; Camilla Chouteau, the Tribal
· ··Council's secretary; Thomas Wabnum, a Tribal
· ··Council member; and Carrie O'Toole; also we have
· ··the treasurer, Hattie Mitchell; and the mayor of
· ··Shabbona, Ms. Claudia Hicks.··There may be other
· ··elected officials present.··We will give them
· ··all an opportunity to speak at the beginning of
· ··the comments session.
· · · · ·If you are an elected official who would
· ··like to speak, please identify yourself to one
· ··of our representatives in the lobby.
· · · · ·Both written and spoken comments will be
· ··accepted at tonight's meeting.··If you have a
· ··written comment or letter that you would like to
· ··submit, please hand it to one of the
· ··representatives in the lobby.··If you decide you
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· ··would like to make a written comment tonight,
· ··you can take a blue card that we have in the
· ··lobby there and write in your comment and submit
· ··it in the box or mail it to the address that is
· ··on the bottom.··Just make sure that if you do
· ··mail in your comment, please have it in the mail
· ··prior to the deadline, which is February 22nd,
· ··2016.
· · · · ·If you would like to make a spoken comment
· ··tonight, please fill out one of the yellow
· ··speaker cards at the tables in the lobby and
· ··hand it in to one of our attendants.··We will
· ··take speakers in the order we receive the cards.
· ··Everyone will be given three minutes, as Scott
· ··mentioned, in order to make sure that everyone
· ··has an opportunity to speak.··We have a
· ··stenographer present who will record your spoken
· ··comment word for word so they can be considered
· ··fully in the comments as recorded.
· · · · ·Please understand that the purpose of the
· ··hearing tonight is to listen to your comments.
· ··We will not be responding to any questions.
· ··That will be done in later reports.
· · · · ·I will now provide a brief PowerPoint
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· ··presentation on the proposed action and the EIS
· ··process.
· · · · ·The National Environmental Protection -· ··sorry.··The National Environmental Policy Act,
· ··or NEPA for short, is a procedural statute that
· ··requires the analysis of potential environmental
· ··impacts of major federal actions.
· · · · ·In this case, the proposed major federal
· ··action is that the Prairie Band Potawatomi
· ··Nation has requested that approximately 129
· ··acres of lands be taken into federal trust.
· · · · ·Prior to deciding whether to approve or
· ··deny that request, the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
· ··or BIA, must conduct a NEPA environmental review
· ··to determine the potential environmental impacts
· ··of that action.
· · · · ·The first step of the NEPA process is to
· ··see whether a categorical exclusion or an
· ··exemption applies.··The categorical exclusions
· ··are appropriate if the action is minor or would
· ··not normally result in significant impacts.
· ··This does not apply in this case.
· · · · ·If it is not appropriate to issue a
· ··categorical exclusion, the lead agency would
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· ··consider preparing an environmental assessment
· ··to determine whether significant environmental
· ··impacts may be present.··If no potentially
· ··significant impacts are identified, the lead
· ··agency will prepare a finding of no significant
· ··impact and conclude the NEPA process.
· · · · ·If there is more than a moderate
· ··likelihood that a significant adverse impact may
· ··occur as a result of the project, the lead
· ··agency would prepare an EIS.··This is the NEPA
· ··path we are on for the Prairie Band Potawatomi
· ··Nation trust acquisition and gaming facility
· ··project.··We will address each of the steps in
· ··the EIS process in detail in later slides.
· · · · ·As I stated earlier, the proposed actions
· ··consist of the trust acquisition of
· ··approximately 129 acres within the Shabbona
· ··Village.··Subsequent to the determination, the
· ··Prairie Band proposes to develop the new trust
· ··lands with a gaming facility, restaurants,
· ··lounges, a multi-purpose room, parking and other
· ··supporting facilities.
· · · · ·The proposed trust property is located
· ··southeast of downtown Shabbona and northeast of
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· ··intersection of University Road and Preserve
· ··Road.
· · · · ·Here is a preliminary draft site plan for
· ··the project that shows the location of the
· ··gaming facility building, restaurants,
· ··multi-purpose room and vehicle access points.
· · · · ·Returning to the EIS process.··The BIA
· ··published a notice of intent to prepare an EIS
· ··on January 6th, 2016.··If you would like to read
· ··it, the NOI is posted at www.prairiebandeis.com.
· ··We also have hard copies of the NOI available at
· ··the sign-in tables.··We will post all future
· ··NEPA documents online at this website for public
· ··review.
· · · · ·Scoping is the process by which the lead
· ··agency solicits input from the public and
· ··interested agencies on the nature and extent of
· ··issues and effects to be addressed in the EIS.
· ··The scope of a document includes the extent of
· ··the action, range of alternatives and types of
· ··impacts to be evaluated.
· · · · ·This is the list of issues we currently
· ··expect to study in the EIS.
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· ··the scoping process, including those received
· ··tonight, specific issues may be added to that
· ··list.
· · · · ·Once again, the comment period ends on
· ··Monday, February 22nd, 2016.··Please hand in
· ··your written comments or mail them in to the BIA
· ··before that date.
· · · · ·After the close of the scoping period, the
· ··BIA will prepare a scoping report that includes
· ··all public comments, including everything said
· ··at this meeting.··The BIA will use the scoping
· ··report as a guide during the preparation of the
· ··EIS.
· · · · ·The BIA will prepare a draft EIS that
· ··analyzes the potential environmental impacts of
· ··the proposed action along with a reasonable
· ··range of alternatives.
· · · · ·The draft EIS will be made available for
· ··public review for at least 45 days.··BIA will
· ··hold another public hearing during that 45-day
· ··comment period where the public can provide
· ··comments on the document.
· · · · ·After the public review and comment period
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· ··closes on the draft EIS, the BIA will prepare a
· ··final EIS that includes responses to substantive
· ··comments and will make this document available
· ··to the public for review for at least 30 days.
· · · · ·After the close of this review period, the
· ··BIA will then issue a Record of Decision, or ROD
· ··for short, that includes the BIA's decision on
· ··the proposed action.··Issuance of the ROD marks
· ··the end of the NEPA process.
· · · · ·Comments can be sent to Ms. Diane Rosen,
· ··Midwest Regional Director of the BIA at the
· ··address on the slide.··Mr. Doig is also
· ··available if you would like to request any
· ··additional information.
· · · · ·You can ask to be added to the mailing
· ··list by contacting Mr. Doig or checking the box
· ··on the sign-in sheet next to your name.
· ··However, all documents and information will be
· ··posted on the website.
· · · · ·Now we will proceed with public comments.
· ··We ask that everyone please try to limit your
· ··comments to three minutes.··We have a digital
· ··timer that you will be able to see when you come
· ··up to the microphone.··The light will turn green
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· ··when you start speaking.··It will start flashing
· ··green when you have one minute left.··It will
· ··turn yellow when there's 30 seconds left.··And
· ··it will turn red, and there will be a little
· ··beep when you reach the end of your three
· ··minutes.
· · · · ·Please state your name clearly for the
· ··record and speak as clearly as possible so the
· ··court reporter can accurately document your
· ··words.
· · · · ·We will require that the audience does not
· ··make any noises that would distract from our
· ··stenographer's ability to accurately record the
· ··comments.··Please do not applaud or express
· ··displeasure with any comments.··If we can't hear
· ··a speaker's comments because of disturbances in
· ··the auditorium, the hearing will be stopped
· ··until order is restored.
· · · · ·Speakers are required to address this
· ··table and address the BIA with your comments so
· ··that the BIA can hear what you're saying and so
· ··that the stenographer can accurately record your
· ··words.··If you do not address the table
· ··directly, I will ask the stenographer to stop
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· ··recording and we will move on to the next
· ··speaker.
· · · · ·As a courtesy to our elected officials in
· ··the audience that would like to speak, we are
· ··providing you with the first opportunity to come
· ··forward and provide comments.
· · · · ·I'm going to call the first five speakers
· ··up.··We have the first row here reserved.··So
· ··when your name is called, please make your way
· ··up to the front and wait for your turn.
· · · · ·The first few speakers are Joyce Guerrero,
· ··Thomas Wabnum, Hattie Mitchell, Claudia Hicks.
· · · · ·MS. GUERRERO:··Good evening.··I am Joyce
· ··Guerrero, and I serve as the vice chairman of
· ··the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's Tribal
· ··Council.
· · · · ·I would like to start by saying -- we were
· ··introduced, but we were all sitting over there.
· ··We are a seven-member Tribal Council, elected
· ··positions, and so we -- this is all important to
· ··us and all -- we do have a -- our chair person
· ··is absent.··Her father-in-law passed away and
· ··their having services tonight.··But we did want
· ··to let you know that she is committed, our whole
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· ··Council is committed, and we have been grateful
· ··for all the support from the community.
· · · · ·We would like to thank the BIA for giving
· ··us the opportunity to speak.
· · · · ·The Nation has applied to the United
· ··States to acquire two tracts of land in trust
· ··for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.··The
· ··parcels are within the Shab-eh-nay Reservation,
· ··reserved to Chief Shab-eh-nay and his band of
· ··Potawatomi Indians by treaty with the U.S.
· ··government.
· · · · ·The Shab-eh-nay Reservation is of utmost
· ··importance to our Nation.··It has been since the
· ··treaty was signed in 1829.··The Reservation is a
· ··part of our history and culture that we, as the
· ··Nation's leaders, have an obligation to preserve
· ··for our future generations.··It is incumbent
· ··upon us to care for it and develop it in an
· ··environmentally sound manner, and this is what
· ··we plan to do.
· · · · ·We have been consistently upfront about
· ··our plans for our lands.··Our Nation has always
· ··endeavored to be transparent and a good
· ··neighbor, and we have proceeded in this fashion
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· ··with respect to our Shab-eh-nay Reservation.
· ··Our decision to submit an on-reservation trust
· ··application is a continuation of our efforts in
· ··this regard.··The trust process allows for
· ··community input, and we are interested to hear
· ··the thoughts on what environmental issues should
· ··be analyzed in our project's EIS.
· · · · ·Friendships and strong ties have formed
· ··with community members as a result of our many
· ··discussions and visits up here with them about
· ··our plans.
· · · · ·Ultimately, in our efforts to be good
· ··neighbors, we entered formal agreements with the
· ··local governments and entities to address
· ··concerns and mitigate potential impacts arising
· ··out of our plans.
· · · · ·In our agreements with the County and the
· ··Village, we agreed to limit the development of
· ··our lands.··Our plan remains the same as
· ··referenced in the County Agreement eight years
· ··ago.··It is as described in this meeting
· ··tonight:··a modest bingo hall with 800 Class II
· ··bingo machines, a multi-purpose room and
· ··restaurants and bars.··There is no plan for
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· · · · ·We have agreed to development the bingo
· ··hall in a manner consistent with substantive
· ··County requirements in all relevant areas,
· ··including environmental, building, health and
· ··sanitation and solid waste.··As a way of being a
· ··good business neighbor, we agreed not to have
· ··fuel dispensing facilities or retail
· ··establishments not normally associated with a
· ··gaming operation.
· · · · ·Our agreement with the Village of Shabbona
· ··sets forth how we will address water and
· ··wastewater services.
· · · · ·Am I -· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Yes.
· · · · ·Thomas Wabnum.··I'd ask that you move the
· ··microphone so you speak to the table.
· · · · ·MR. WABNUM:··My name is Thomas Wabnum.
· ··I'm a Tribal Council member from the Prairie
· ··Band Potawatomi Nation.
· · · · ·I'd like to get right to my public
· ··comments.··These public comments will be
· ··available, because we'll give a copy to the desk
· ··here.
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· · · · ·Just so we can get everybody in, I'm going
· ··to go right to my statement.··One of the
· ··purposes of our trust application is to right
· ··the historic wrong of the illegal sale of our
· ··Reservation in 1849.
· · · · ·The Potawatomi and allied tribes residing
· ··on the Illinois and Milwaukee Rivers entered
· ··into a treaty of friendship with the United
· ··States in 1816.··This treaty recognized the
· ··title of the tribes to certain lands.
· · · · ·A later treaty with the United States, the
· ··Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1829, ceded
· ··certain lands to the United States but reserved
· ··to Chief Shab-eh-nay and his Band two sections
· ··at their village near Paw Paw Grove, Illinois.
· ··This is the Shab-eh-nay Reservation.
· · · · ·Later treaties also excluded this
· ··Reservation from cessions to the United States.
· · · · ·Notwithstanding this, the General Land
· ··Office illegally sold the Reservation at public
· ··auction in 1849.
· · · · ·From the moment Chief Shab-eh-nay
· ··discovered that the Reservation was sold out
· ··from under him until his death, he took steps to
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· ··regain possession of the land.··He enlisted the
· ··help of white friends to write the federal
· ··government on his behalf and hired attorneys to
· ··pursue the Band's claims.··A citizens' group was
· ··formed to support Chief Shab-eh-nay in his
· ··efforts.··After his death, the Chief's wife
· ··continued the effort.··The Nation, as the
· ··successor-in-interest to Chief Shab-eh-nay's
· ··Band, carried on the efforts to regain
· ··possession and use of our Reservation land.
· · · · ·Our efforts were rewarded in 2000 when,
· ··following an extensive historical and legal
· ··review, the Solicitor's Office of the Department
· ··of the Interior confirmed that the Reservation
· ··continues to exist, that the Shab-eh-nay Band
· ··held recognized title to the Reservation, that
· ··Congress never authorized the conveyance of the
· ··lands, that "the Prairie Band is the lawful
· ··successor in interest to Chief Shab-eh-nay and
· ··his Band," and that the Department "believes the
· ··United States continues to bear a trust
· ··responsibility to the Prairie Band for these
· ··lands."
· · · · ·Notwithstanding the Solicitor's decision,
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· ··the Nation did not seek legal remedies.
· ··Instead, we purchased two parcels of land within
· ··the Shab-eh-nay Reservation from willing
· ··sellers, and it is those lands which the Nation
· ··now proposes to be placed in trust status.
· · · · ·Our Reservation was illegally sold.
· ··Approval of our trust application would right
· ··this historic wrong.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Hattie Mitchell.
· · · · ·MS. MITCHELL:··My name is Hattie Mitchell,
· ··H-A-T-T-I-E M-I-T-C-H-E-L-L.··I'll the treasurer
· ··for Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.··My
· ··background is accounting and finance, and I am a
· ··CPA.··It's my pleasure to be here to speak to
· ··you all today.
· · · · ·One of the purposes of our trust
· ··application is to generate government revenue so
· ··we can better provide for our people.··The
· ··Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is a sovereign
· ··nation.··Our Nation's Council members, including
· ··myself, are the elected government of the
· ··Nation.··We are the decision-making authority
· ··for our Tribe.··One of our main duties is to
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· ··protect the health, peace, morals, education and
· ··welfare of the Tribe.··We protect and promote
· ··the welfare of our tribal members and work to
· ··improve their quality of life.
· · · · ·We do this through a variety of tribal
· ··programs from Head Start to elder care to
· ··housing and education assistance to operation of
· ··our health clinic and other tribal facilities to
· ··community infrastructure projects.··We rely on
· ··tribal government revenues to run our programs
· ··and to carry out our duties to our members.
· · · · ·Our Nation has many needs.··Our government
· ··programs serve approximately 4,710 tribal
· ··members, and in some cases serve non-members,
· ··such as tribal employees or members of other
· ··tribes.··Demand for services continues to grow
· ··as federal, local and state government services
· ··suffer from budget cuts and costs of operating
· ··our programs continue to increase.
· · · · ·Revenues generated from a tribal gaming
· ··facility are tribal government revenues.
· ··Therefore, our plan for a Class II bingo hall on
· ··our Shab-eh-nay Reservation will help us raise
· ··needed government revenue to provide for our
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· · · · ·Importantly, we can use the Shab-eh-nay
· ··Reservation to be an economic engine and job
· ··creator not only for ourselves, but for the
· ··region as well.··And this is what we plan to do.
· · · · ·We anticipate that our project will bring
· ··655 construction jobs, 400 direct employment
· ··operations positions, an estimated $17 million
· ··in annual payroll and $12 million in purchases
· ··of goods and services by the operation of
· ··Illinois vendors and service providers.··These
· ··figures come from an economic impact study by
· ··Marquette Advisors, which specializes in
· ··providing financial and market feasibility
· ··analyses.
· · · · ·Additionally, per our agreements, we
· ··anticipate approximately $2.5 million and
· ··$250,000 in annual revenue share for the County
· ··and the Village, respectively.··This would be
· ··for their use in carrying out their
· ··responsibilities to their citizens.
· · · · ·We believe our project is a good project
· ··that is good for our Nation and the area.··We
· ··look forward to realizing the project's many
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· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thank you.
· · · · ·Claudia Hicks.
· · · · ·MS. HICKS:··Good evening.··My name is
· ··Claudia Hicks, and I'm the mayor of Shabbona.
· · · · ·Over the past decade, I have had the
· ··opportunity to work with the Prairie Band
· ··Potawatomi Nation.··I have found the Nation's
· ··representatives to be forthcoming and reasonable
· ··in our discussions.··They have always been a
· ··great neighbor to the Village of Shabbona.
· · · · ·The Nation has long planned a Class II
· ··bingo hall on its lands.··This bingo hall would
· ··provide much-needed jobs for the Village of
· ··Shabbona.··I believe it would provide economic
· ··development for our Village and many
· ··opportunities for our Village citizens.
· · · · ·As mayor of Shabbona, of course, I want to
· ··make sure that a thorough environmental impact
· ··statement is conducted for the Nation's project
· ··so that we may be assured that the environmental
· ··issues that our community holds dear can be
· ··fully analyzed.··These include impacts on the
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· ··already addressed many of these types of
· ··concerns through the commitments it made to the
· ··County and the Village in agreements.··The
· ··Nation made commitments related to having
· ··limited development of their lands and
· ··developing their lands consistent with our
· ··standards.
· · · · ·The Nation -- the Village entered into an
· ··agreement with the Nation to address water and
· ··wastewater needs for the Nation's project.··In
· ··it, the Nation agreed to pay for connection
· ··construction costs, water and wastewater fees
· ··and a well.
· · · · ·In addition, the Nation agreed to share a
· ··portion of its revenue from its facilities with
· ··the Village.··We can put such monies to good use
· ··for the benefit of our Village.
· · · · ·We ask the BIA to take a hard look at the
· ··environmental issues it must assess, but we also
· ··ask that you do to -- do your work quickly.··The
· ··Village of Shabbona has waited a long time for
· ··the Nation's plans to come to life.··We are
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· ··hopeful we can move forward quickly from this
· ··day forward.
· · · · ·Thank you very much.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thank you.
· · · · ·The next -· · · · ·AUDIENCE MEMBER:··Can the volume be turned
· ··up?
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··I think it might be speaking
· ··into the mic.··We'll see with the next person,
· ··and then I'll raise it.
· · · · ·The next five people will be Lane
· ··Pickwell, Lance McGill, Dave Cargill, Matt
· ··Swanson and Professor John Kindt.
· · · · ·MR. PICKWELL:··I'm Lane Pickwell from
· ··Shabbona, Illinois.
· · · · ·According to information from the Tribe's
· ··proposal for the Village of Shabbona and the
· ··proposed Class II gaming facility, it's going to
· ··create 400 new jobs, 930,000 visitors per year.
· ··That's 2548 visitors per day every day.··That
· ··would fill the Indian Creek High School gym a
· ··little more than two times.
· · · · ·They have also said that there's going to
· ··be hundreds of construction jobs.··What kind of
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· ··jobs?··Local contractors?··Or will this be
· ··Prairie Band people out doing those construction
· ··jobs?··What little construction they have been
· ··doing there, I have seen nothing but Prairie
· ··Band construction people there.··I think
· ··something bigger is going on here.··I doubt that
· ··it would take hundreds of people to construct
· ··the building that I have seen that you have
· ··shown up on the board to develop that site.
· · · · ·The only logical place for them to expand
· ··is to the forest preserve and to the state park.
· ··And if that is the case, to satisfy the hundreds
· ··of construction jobs, something will have to be
· ··constructed.··More importantly, something will
· ··have to be destructed out at the state park and
· ··the forest preserve.··We stand to lose our nice
· ··forest preserve and our state park and the
· ··pristine condition and nice condition that come
· ··along with that because of the building, the
· ··parking lots, roadways and similar maintenance
· ··that would have to go on there.
· · · · ·And 400 new jobs?··I don't have a problem
· ··with new jobs, but what kind of jobs would they
· ··be?··That's not been stated.··And what kind
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· ··of -- would they be white staff jobs?··Maid-type
· ··jobs?
· · · · ·I feel the community and the County and
· ··the local community deserves a better answer
· ··than what we have been getting.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thank you.
· · · · ·Was everyone able to hear him okay?
· · · · ·Okay.··Lance McGill.
· · · · ·MR. McGILL:··Good evening.··I am Lance
· ··McGill.··I've lived in DeKalb, Illinois, for
· ··about 20 years now.··I am an operating engineer,
· ··and I currently am employed by the operating
· ··engineers as a business representative.
· · · · ·I'm here to support this project.··We do
· ··believe there will be local contractors doing
· ··these jobs.··I didn't always work for the Local.
· ··I know what it's like to be on these jobs, and
· ··every job is important that comes up, no matter
· ··how big or small, everything from a small Dollar
· ··General store to something like this.
· · · · ·And I think it will enhance the use of the
· ··Shabbona Forest Preserve, because there's a lot
· ··of people that if you're not into fishing, you
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· ··from this area.··So as people come out to use
· ··this area, I think it's going to further impact
· ··the local economy for the good.
· · · · ·And we're fully in support of this
· ··project.··Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thank you.
· · · · ·Dave Cargill.
· · · · ·MR. CARGILL:··Hello.··My name is Dave
· ··Cargill.··I am a representative of the
· ··International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
· · · · ·In my job, I attend a lot of county board
· ··meetings, a lot of city council meetings, and
· ··everybody is looking for more jobs and new
· ··revenue.··And here we have an opportunity right
· ··in front of us.··So I encourage all involved
· ··with this project to work together, address the
· ··issues and make it happen for the residents.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Matt Swanson.
· · · · ·MR. SWANSON:··My name is Matt Swanson.
· ··I'm president of the DeKalb County Building
· ··Trades Council.
· · · · ·We have been in contact with the Prairie
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· ··Band Potawatomi Nation since about 2006.··In all
· ··the contacts that we have had with the Tribe, we
· ··have found them to be honest, sincere and very
· ··open to any questions or concerns.
· · · · ·If ultimately they are able to build the
· ··bingo hall as they desire, the project will
· ··benefit Shabbona and DeKalb County in numerous
· ··ways.··It will create numerous well-paying
· ··construction jobs, permanent jobs and
· ··substantial income for the County.
· · · · ·Although they are not required by law to
· ··pay taxes, they entered into a contract
· ··agreement with the County in 2008 in which they
· ··agreed to pay annually $800,000, or 2-1/2
· ··percent of the gross, whichever is larger.
· · · · ·We believe that this project will be of
· ··great benefit to the citizens of DeKalb County
· ··now and for generations to come, and we fully
· ··support this project.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thank you.
· · · · ·John Kindt.··The next few speakers will be
· ··Joy Fay, Tammy Leeney, Ed Leeney and Peter
· ··Dordal.
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· · · · ·MR. KINDT:··I'm Professor John Kindt from
· ··the University of Illinois.··I'm not
· ··representing the University, but I'm a
· ··researcher from the University.··I have been
· ··there since 1978.··And I was urged by my
· ··colleagues at that university and another
· ··university, as well as elected public officials
· ··to come here tonight to address the BIA with
· ··regard to NEPA.
· · · · ·I would also indicate that at the
· ··University of Illinois, we have done a
· ··multi-volume work called "The United States
· ··International Gambling Report," and I personally
· ··have also published several books of which cite
· ··extensively to EIS statements and to NEPA.··So I
· ··am very familiar with that process.
· · · · ·In this regard, just a little historical
· ··background, we worked closely with U.S. Senator
· ··Paul Simon, U.S. Senator Richard Luther to
· ··establish the U.S. National Gambling Impact
· ··Study Commission, which was quite negative when
· ··it came to tribal gambling and so-called
· ··economic benefits.··I won't deny the short-term
· ··benefits which I have heard here tonight, but
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· ··on the surrounding community.
· · · · ·And I brought with me, for example, just a
· ··press release by the Osage Tribe -- which is a
· ··very similar type of proposal, although it says
· ··"casino" on here -- that says this will take
· ··40 to $50 million per year out of the consumer
· ··economy.··And so consumers lose this economic
· ··benefit -- gambling dollars are not consumer
· ··dollars -- and other businesses will be hurt.
· ··This is an economic siphon of money out of the
· ··consumer economy and into the gambling
· ··establishment.
· · · · ·I won't address the social costs of having
· ··a gambling facility nearby, but the bottom line
· ··is, from all the academic studies, that the cost
· ··to the local community are $3 to $7 or more -· ··I'll just say $3 for every $1 in benefits.··So
· ··this is basically lose-lose for the community at
· ··large.··It's win-win for the leadership of the
· ··Tribe, but it is not real genuine economic
· ··development.
· · · · ·I would point out one other thing.··I
· ··brought one volume here from the U.S.
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· ··International Gambling Report where myself and
· ··my colleagues regularly testify before Congress
· ··and the State legislatures.··And this particular
· ··volume has a 2005 hearing at which I testified
· ··with Senator Brad Lojeski (phonetic) from this
· ··area, and I would refer people to that.
· · · · ·I remember also testifying with a Tribal
· ··member sitting next to us who was very
· ··distraught about the crime that the gambling had
· ··brought to her Tribe and to her community.
· · · · ·So thank you.··I have brought some
· ··materials here for people that wish to see them.
· ··Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Joy Fay.
· · · · ·MS. FAY:··My name is Joy Fay.
· · · · ·I just want to say that I am for this
· ··project.··And to go back in time a little bit,
· ··when I was a child and the state park was
· ··coming, my parents owned the farm at the
· ··entrance of the state park.··And although we had
· ··to -- we were forced to sell the farm, that my
· ··parents were still for the state park.··And I
· ··think that's been beneficial for the community,
· ··and I think this would be also.
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· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Tammy Leeney.
· · · · ·MS. LEENEY:··My name is Tammy Leeney.
· · · · ·When I first heard about an environmental
· ··impact study being done, the obvious things that
· ··came to my mind were noise and litter and
· ··traffic and things like that.··Then it occurred
· ··to me that this potential casino, bingo parlor,
· ··whatever we call it, will be -- will have a huge
· ··impact on our way of life.··Then it occurred to
· ··me that a way of life is my environment, and it
· ··will be impacted.
· · · · ·I came to this rural area in 1989 and left
· ··Naperville to move here because I wanted to
· ··raise my family in a small community.··I left
· ··huge, highly technical schools to raise my kids
· ··in a school that didn't even have computers at
· ··the time that we came here.··I was willing to
· ··make those sacrifices so I could raise my family
· ··in a small town.
· · · · ·There aren't many places like this left,
· ··and I think we need to preserve it and protect
· ··it.
· · · · ·I think of the traffic and the element
· ··that gambling can bring to a small town, to any
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· ··forth to school.··I think of the traffic.··I
· ··think of the school buses.··I think of farm
· ··equipment moving slowly along the highways.··And
· ··I am not at all comfortable with that idea in
· ··this little area.
· · · · ·Some places can withstand the traffic that
· ··we would be getting because they already have an
· ··infrastructure, they have mega highways, and
· ··this is not that area.
· · · · ·I'm concerned that the money that has been
· ··promised would not cover the costs of what we
· ··would need to do in our community -- not just
· ··Shabbona, but Waterman and Hinkley -- to improve
· ··our infrastructure so that the casino could
· ··happen here.
· · · · ·At the risk of sounding a little
· ··offensive, I feel it's not Shabbona's fault that
· ··the Potawatomi Band spent an outrageous amount
· ··of money on land that had not yet been deemed a
· ··reservation.··This putting land into trust seems
· ··like a last ditch effort, to me, to rectify a
· ··problem that probably could have been prevented
· ··if more research had been done about whether or
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· ··not this was reservation land.
· · · · ·I don't doubt the integrity or honesty of
· ··the Potawatomi Band people, but I think this
· ··small community needs to be protected and
· ··preserved.··We don't need to invite thousands of
· ··people in and out of our streets and our towns
· ··on a daily basis.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Edmond Leeney.
· · · · ·MR. LEENEY:··My name is Edmond,
· ··E-D-M-O-N-D, Leeney, L-E-E-N-E-Y.
· · · · ·I am a director with the DeKalb County
· ··Taxpayers Against the Casino.··And we have been
· ··the beneficiaries of tremendous amounts of
· ··research, not only from the internet but from
· ··other organizations such as ourselves who have
· ··done the research over the years about the
· ··impact of gambling on small communities.
· · · · ·Based upon our research and a report that
· ··we had developed by James Lynch, our historian,
· ··to present to the NIGC, the land was not and is
· ··not a reservation.··In fact, if it was, there
· ··would probably be no application to be putting
· ··it into trust.··So it had to be purchased, and
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· ··then hopefully -- they're hoping that they will
· ··put it into trust.
· · · · ·Furthermore, I would say it's not a bingo
· ··hall.··Its a Class II casino.··Bingo hall -· ··using the term "bingo hall" is not being
· ··forthright with the residents of the area.··A
· ··Class II casino is a high-tech slot machine
· ··heaven, and it has considerable potential damage
· ··for the community.
· · · · ·Also, with regard to the environment, the
· ··environment right now is a field where you'll
· ··see deer running around, where you'll see birds
· ··and hawks.··We see deer walking a giant loop
· ··between the forest preserve/state park and our
· ··house, and they follow that same loop all the
· ··time.
· · · · ·But even more than that, I wanted to tell
· ··you about something exciting that happened:··a
· ··bald eagle.··A bald eagle generally has a
· ··feeding range or habitat of between 1700 acres
· ··and 10,000 acres.··That means up to, on average,
· ··9.2 miles from the bald eagle's nest is where
· ··they feed.··It's where they go and get their
· ··food.
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· · · · ·There's a bald eagle pair nesting, mating,
· ··about 1.75 miles from where this building is
· ··going to be at.··So we have to ask ourselves, if
· ··their range extends on average up to 9.2 miles
· ··from the nest, what impact is this development
· ··going to have on what has become just recently a
· ··species that's moved into our area?
· · · · ·We haven't seen bald eagles in my lifetime
· ··around here.··I saw one about ten days ago
· ··nesting near the southwest corner of what they
· ··consider their reservation.··And I think this
· ··development will have a very negative impact on
· ··that population, only because bald eagles aren't
· ··only just hunters, they're also scavengers and
· ··they go after carcasses.··So when you, you know,
· ··pull 900,000 to a million people in and out of
· ··Shabbona, the deer are going to get in the way
· ··right along Route 30 and such, and there's going
· ··to be a lot of roadkill.··The bald eagles can
· ··get attracted to that, which is well north of
· ··where they're nesting.··And they will become
· ··vulnerable to the massive traffic inflows and
· ··outflows.··So this is not only a bad concept for
· ··the people of the Village, but also the wildlife
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· ··of the Village.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thank you.
· · · · ·Peter Dordal.
· · · · ·The next individuals to speak are going to
· ··be Frank Ottenghedme, Lenny Mack, Jeff Connor
· ··and Barb Nelson.
· · · · ·MR. DORDAL:··Good evening.··I'm Peter
· ··Dordal, of Shabbona.
· · · · ·When the Prairie Band proposed a casino
· ··outside of Shabbona in 2007, they were claiming
· ··the land still held treaty recognized status as
· ··a reservation.··The DeKalb County Taxpayers
· ··Against the Casino was formed at that time, and
· ··we showed, with the help of historian James
· ··Lynch, that at no point, even in the 1850s, did
· ··the federal government understand this to be the
· ··case.··Neither did Chief Shab-eh-nay or his
· ··Band.··The reservation is a myth.
· · · · ·Now the Prairie Band is back, this time
· ··with a non-reservation plan to build a casino
· ··here.··But to do that, it must be shown that the
· ··casino would not be detrimental to the
· ··surrounding community.··We believe that it is
· ··well established that casinos are damaging to
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· ··communities.··Casinos make their profit on the
· ··backs of their regular customers; that is, the
· ··problem gamblers who gamble more than they can
· ··afford.··And these won't be people from east of
· ··route 47; they have their own casinos.··The
· ··midweek specials will be marketed to our rural
· ··community:··DeKalb County and west and south.
· ··We cannot afford it.
· · · · ·The end result will be the transfer of 30
· ··to $50 million a year to Kansas, even taking
· ··into account the jobs the casino will create.
· ··Money leaving DeKalb County will outweigh the
· ··casino's ordinary payroll by perhaps
· ··four-to-one.··Opening the casino will be like
· ··closing a large employer here.
· · · · ·There are also the social costs:··crime,
· ··family stress, bankruptcies, need for support
· ··services.··These are all well documented.
· · · · ·The state park would be significantly
· ··impacted by litter, noise and runoff.··Traffic
· ··would triple.··It's a terrible idea to put an
· ··enormous development right outside one of
· ··Chicago's few large natural areas.
· · · · ·Since there's no longer a reservation
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· ··claim at stake, building the casino at this
· ··particular site simply makes no sense.
· · · · ·Finally, this casino brings no money for
· ··the state.··It also offers no protection for
· ··consumers.··The Prairie Band has declined to
· ··waive sovereign immunity for alcohol liability,
· ··despite the fact that calling a cab if you're
· ··over-served is not an option out here.
· · · · ·The Prairie Band has not agreed to
· ··participate in Illinois problem gambler programs
· ··or to limit ATM access.··And there is absolutely
· ··no County oversight of future expansion and
· ··development.
· · · · ·We do not need this casino in Illinois and
· ··certainly not at this location.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Frank Ottenghedme.
· · · · ·MR. OTTENGHEDME:··Good evening.··My name
· ··is Frank Ottenghedme.
· · · · ·I am the chief of the Shabbona Fire
· ··Protection District, and wanted it to be known
· ··that the fire protection district has an
· ··agreement with the Prairie Band Potawatomi for
· ··fire, rescue and ambulance services which we
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· ··believe is good for the taxpayers of our fire
· ··district and the Prairie Band Potawatomi.··We
· ··will be able to put some people on the payroll
· ··and take care of what we believe is going to
· ··come from the casino.
· · · · ·And it should be known that the agreement
· ··is open-ended enough if what we have agreed to
· ··is not what we need, the Prairie Band is willing
· ··to amend the agreement and get us what we do
· ··need.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Lenny Mack.
· · · · ·MR. MACK:··My name is Lenny Mack.
· · · · ·On behalf of friends who struggle with
· ··compulsive gambling -· · · · ·MR. DOIG:··Sir, could you speak into the
· ··microphone, please.··Thank you.
· · · · ·MR. MACK:··On before of friends who
· ··struggle with compulsive gambling, on behalf of
· ··their families, friends, employers and
· ··communities and on behalf of citizens of the
· ··region who appreciate the rural serenity and
· ··peaceful recreational opportunities of Shabbona
· ··Lake State Park, I respectfully appeal to the
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· ··Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to deny this
· ··request for a gaming facility permit in DeKalb
· ··County.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Jeff Connor.
· · · · ·MR. CONNOR:··Good evening.··My name is
· ··Jeff Connor.
· · · · ·I'm a resident.··I live a couple miles
· ··down the road from the proposed casino.··This is
· ··very aggravating that they continue to call this
· ··a bingo parlor.··Bingo parlors in all of our
· ··minds denote a church basement with a bunch of
· ··people sitting around with a dauber.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Speak into the microphone,
· ··please.
· · · · ·MR. CONNOR:··This is not a bingo parlor.
· ··It's a casino.··We don't need a casino.
· · · · ·Everybody talks about jobs.··Yeah, there's
· ··going to be a few jobs.··They will be very
· ··short-term jobs, construction jobs.··After that,
· ··this is all about the almighty dollar.··That's
· ··what this is about.··It's going to be lining not
· ··Shabbona's pockets, but Kansas's pockets with
· ··this money.··It's going to go out of our
· ··community.··It's going to cost us a lot of
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· · · · ·The only jobs I have seen so far was
· ··construction equipment, excavating equipment
· ··brought down there on that property and sat
· ··there.··That didn't belong to a local excavator.
· · · · ·A couple other things.··When they bought
· ··this property, everybody knows they paid an
· ··exorbitant fee and way more than farmland is
· ··worth in DeKalb County.··They thought they were
· ··going to be -- put this casino up real quick,
· ··make a quick dollar on it and nobody would fight
· ··it.··Well, wrong.··There's a lot of people
· ··fighting this.··And we don't want it down there.
· ··If DeKalb wants it, let them take it up to
· ··DeKalb city.··There's a whole infrastructure
· ··there ready to absorb this.
· · · · ·Basically, this is a backdoor policy.
· ··Aren't we, as Americans, kind of sick and tired
· ··of backdoor policies, backdoor politics running
· ··this country?··If they can't get it this way,
· ··let's just try another way.
· · · · ·I stand.··I do not want a casino in
· ··Shabbona.
· · · · ·Thanks.
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· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Barb Nelson.
· · · · ·The next individuals will be Robert Purdy,
· ··Craig Nelson, Audra Boehne and Thomas Ekle.
· · · · ·MS. NELSON:··Hello.··My name is Barb
· ··Nelson, and I'd like to address the Bureau of
· ··Indian Affairs.
· · · · ·I live less than 15 miles from the
· ··proposed site of the casino, and I am concerned
· ··how a casino would change our community.
· ··Casinos change the feel of a community.··Casinos
· ··encourage more people to gamble.··Casinos
· ··tarnish a community.
· · · · ·I moved here from Wisconsin five years
· ··ago.··In Wisconsin, I saw firsthand how casinos
· ··tarnish a community.··I lived in a neighborhood
· ··where three casinos were built in our
· ··surrounding communities:··one in Hayward,
· ··Wisconsin, a population of 2,318; one in Turtle
· ··Lake, population of 1,065; one in Danbury,
· ··population of 172.
· · · · ·When I worked near Hayward, I drove past
· ··the casino on my way to work.··There were often
· ··hoards of police cars that would pass me on the
· ··way.··Some of them would be speeding past with
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· ··their lights flashing.··This was not normal on
· ··other roads that I would travel when I would
· ··work at other locations.··I was always relieved
· ··and glad to get past the casino.
· · · · ·Our company had a Christmas party in that
· ··very casino, and my coworkers told stories of
· ··their friends' luck gambling in the Hayward
· ··casino.··The one story I will never forget was a
· ··woman who spent all night playing the slot
· ··machines.··This woman wore diapers at the slot
· ··machine to avoid missing a lucky break.
· · · · ·I have four children, and when we would
· ··drive past the extremely large billboard signs
· ··advertising the casinos, they would ask, What is
· ··that lady doing on the sign, Mommy?··I didn't
· ··appreciate how the signs seemed to target
· ··children.··For example, the Turtle Lake Casino
· ··sign had cute turtles on them.··Imagine your
· ··neighborhood littered with gigantic, flashy
· ··signs portraying gambling as an exciting,
· ··harmless past-time.··It seemed like the
· ··advertising for the casinos took over our local
· ··newspapers as well.··Casinos seem to tarnish a
· ··community.
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· · · · ·Though people can gamble and not become
· ··compulsive gamblers, what about the ones that
· ··do?··If compulsive gambling is not a problem,
· ··why do we have over 1,700 Gamblers Anonymous
· ··chapters in this country?
· · · · ·As a resident of this community, I don't
· ··want to relive and see the same tarnishing
· ··effect that the casino may have on our
· ··community.
· · · · ·Bureau of Indian Affairs, I ask that you
· ··deny this request.··Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thank you.
· · · · ·Robert Purdy.
· · · · ·MR. PURDY:··Robert Purdy, a Shabbona
· ··resident.
· · · · ·We presume the PBPN request to place the
· ··referred land into the trust must follow a
· ··decision by the National Indian Gaming
· ··Commission that land was not a reservation, as
· ··claimed to be by the PBPN.··We therefore look at
· ··the regulations that pertain to land into trust,
· ··well known in the section of the Indian Gaming
· ··Regulatory Act of 1998 which prohibits gaming on
· ··lands acquired into trust after October 17th,
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· ··1988, unless one of the exceptions or exemptions
· ··applies.··These are contained in a letter dated
· ··December 30th, 2015, by Kevin Washburn,
· ··assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, to Diane
· ··Feinstein.
· · · · ·I will not read these, but they include
· ··exceptions of land within the contiguous or
· ··known boundaries of a Tribe, lands within the
· ··tribe's last recognized reservation,
· ··determination made by the Secretary of
· ··Department of Interior after consultation with
· ··state and local officials, et cetera, and that
· ··there is an exception with the governor of the
· ··state.
· · · · ·You know these very well.··And, therefore,
· ··our questions asked and must be answered before
· ··this request for land into trust are, one, What
· ··is the answer to the exemptions?
· · · · ·Two, What legitimate answers to our local
· ··social, economic, crime, community and benefit
· ··questions are given?
· · · · ·Three, How will the tribal members be
· ··included when the existent reservation is 500
· ··miles or so distance and not commute distance?
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· · · · ·To conclude, Prairie Band is a remote -· ··is stable.··They have described tonight their
· ··benefits that they have and claim to be a very
· ··profitable organization.··Therefore, they are
· ··already engaged in profitable gaming, and the
· ··vastly greater part of any gaming profits to the
· ··enterprise will be drawn from our community by
· ··design and impose on us social, economic
· ··problems known to attend gaming.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Craig Nelson.
· · · · ·MR. NELSON:··I'd like to thank the Bureau
· ··of Indian Affairs for listening to my plea.
· · · · ·I'm a concerned citizen, also a clergy.··I
· ··have had close relations with reservations,
· ··three different reservations where I came from.
· ··I do know something about the effect of gambling
· ··on a community.
· · · · ·I moved from Wisconsin to Lee, Illinois.
· ··Wasn't all that long ago.··The town that I came
· ··from was within close driving distance of three
· ··casinos:··20 miles from Hayward, 30 miles from
· ··Danbury, 50 miles from Turtle Lake.··All three
· ··of these casino towns, if they had to do it
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· ··again -- I have talked to the community leaders.
· ··People that had been for it say if they had to
· ··do it over again, they would rather the casino
· ··not be there.
· · · · ·Now, I know that defilement -- that might
· ··seem like a rather harsh term, but the casinos
· ··do defile a neighborhood.··Yes, there are
· ··short-term advantages, and we have heard of some
· ··of these:··added tax revenues for the community,
· ··and there's usually a nice large space for
· ··wedding receptions, but the cost is great.
· · · · ·All three towns, all three towns have a
· ··greater incidence of crime, drugs, broken
· ··families as moms and dads spent money that was
· ··meant for food at the casino instead.
· · · · ·You know, the Georgia -- I think it's the
· ··Georgia University or is it Georgetown?
· · · · ·MS. NELSON:··State University.
· · · · ·MR. NELSON:··State University of Georgia,
· ··they have a study.··73 percent of those
· ··incarcerated in the United States have a
· ··gambling issue, a gambling problem.··That's a
· ··powerful, powerful...
· · · · ·The Salvation Army and other relief
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· ··agencies are receiving more people in need of
· ··food, and the social workers have added
· ··workloads.··I have close social workers in some
· ··of these towns.
· · · · ·My grandpa used to say that money that
· ··comes from ill-gotten gain is tainted and leads
· ··to no good.··It's true.··Casinos do bring in
· ··some revenue, but the cost that is brought on by
· ··hurting families, broken families, divorces and
· ··the like, increased incidents of crime, drugs,
· ··sometimes gang activity, things like this, they
· ··far outweigh any of the perceived benefits.
· · · · ·I have seen three communities I liked and
· ··loved and the towns around them hurt by casinos
· ··in Wisconsin, and I don't wish to see my new
· ··neighborhood in Illinois harmed like my old
· ··ones.··Please refrain from this project.
· · · · ·Thank you very much.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Audra Boehne.
· · · · ·MS. BOEHNE:··Hi, I'm Audra Boehne from
· ··Shabbona.
· · · · ·Because you are holding these
· ··environmental impact studies, I would like for
· ··you to question -- I know you're going to go
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· ··through these points, but I would like for you
· ··to question the impact on our state park that
· ··this will have.
· · · · ·And someone tonight spoke to the fact that
· ··it will bring more people, and so then we would
· ··have more people to enjoy our state park.
· ··Unfortunately, I believe that's a totally
· ··different population that will come to use the
· ··casino versus those who enjoy our natural state
· ··park.
· · · · ·Scientifically it's been proven that a
· ··gambling addiction, a gambling facility has
· ··shown an increase in crime in an area, an
· ··increase in divorce, in abused children and
· ··problems, and so I ask you to look at those
· ··social impacts.
· · · · ·While I note that there will be an
· ··increase in income in the short term, in the
· ··long term I'm very concerned about the harm it
· ··will do to my community.··And while I see an
· ··increase in profits for the Tribe, unfortunately
· ··I see many being removed from our community.
· · · · ·Thank you for our consideration, and I
· ··hope you will deny this.
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· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thomas Ekke (phonetic).
· · · · ·MR. EKLE:··Ekle.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Ekle.··Sorry, sir.
· · · · ·MR. EKLE:··My name is Thomas Ekle.··I'm
· ··the mayor of Waterman, Illinois.
· · · · ·This letter has already been submitted,
· ··but I want to read it in the record.
· · · · ·I'm here on behalf of the Village of
· ··Waterman regarding the application filed with
· ··the Department of the Interior by the Prairie
· ··Band Potawatomi Nation.
· · · · ·The Nation's lands are near our Village,
· ··and one way for our people to get to those lands
· ··is by driving through our Village.··We support
· ··the application because the Nation's planned
· ··Class II bingo facility on its 128- -- or -29 -· ··seems to vary.··I notice that sometimes they say
· ··128, sometimes they say 129, so got an acre
· ··there that's in dispute -- acre parcel will spur
· ··economic development and create employment
· ··opportunities in the Village of Waterman.
· · · · ·On behalf of the Village, I respectfully
· ··request you to proceed with processing the
· ··Nation's application and publish the notice of
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· ··intent to prepare the environmental impact study
· ··as soon as possible.
· · · · ·So I thank you for this time.
· · · · ·And I would like to say on behalf of
· ··myself, I know -- I heard some comments about,
· ··well, this isn't actually Indian property.··You
· ··know, the Indians have taken a big hit over the
· ··years, and I believe that we need to quit
· ··splitting hairs about which property is theirs
· ··and which property isn't.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··The next speakers are John
· ··Hart, Dirk Enger, Ruben Collazo and Kathy Sands.
· · · · ·MR. HART:··My family bought cattle off an
· ··Indian reservation in Montana.··The governor
· ··couldn't touch them.··The state police couldn't.
· ··And so my concern is the students that will live
· ··on this Indian parcel.··They either have their
· ··own schooling or they pay Indian Creek the
· ··average cost of a student in Indian Creek.
· ··We're a small district.
· · · · ·Just for an example, you talk about 400
· ··employees.··If a hundred of them have three
· ··children apiece, that is in the millions, and we
· ··don't have any inner streets.··We just have
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· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Dirk Enger.
· · · · ·MR. ENGER:··My name is Dirk Enger, and I
· ··am president of Ironworkers Local 393 in Aurora,
· ··Illinois, which actually will be doing some of
· ··the work at this project if it's approved.
· · · · ·I'd like to thank the BIA for an
· ··opportunity tonight to speak.
· · · · ·As you have seen with the project,
· ··everybody thinks when a laborer steps up and
· ··supports a project, it's just because we want to
· ··build a building and move on.··That's not the
· ··truth of it at all.··We have members that live
· ··within these communities, to us it's not only
· ··just a job, it's about their quality of life,
· ··just as you heard from residents here tonight.
· · · · ·I also was an elected official in the
· ··second largest county in this state, DuPage
· ··County.··I know what it is to meet criteria,
· ··requirements for a project.··And is it injurious
· ··to the area in which it's being built?
· · · · ·You know, we're sitting here and comparing
· ··different stats from different areas of the
· ··country on gambling and that.··Everybody knows
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· ··one size doesn't fit all.··Each community is
· ··affected differently based upon religious
· ··beliefs, products, communities, health and
· ··welfare.
· · · · ·So you can't really use stats up here and
· ··say that this is an overlay that can be used
· ··through the country.··That's why I'm glad you're
· ··here tonight.··I'm also glad because of the
· ··people that showed up from the Tribe.··We have
· ··been working with them.··Our community has been
· ··working with them.··We have seen a sincere
· ··outreach to address any issues by the Tribe
· ··before they even petitioned to have a trust
· ··filed with the BIA.
· · · · ·Also, the concerns on the impacts to the
· ··land, I can tell you, I come from Minnesota, I
· ··come from a smaller town than yours -· ··Rochester, Minnesota.··You know right away,
· ··Minnesota, you know where the Indian casino,
· ··hotel and auditorium are built:··along the
· ··river, where the eagles actually nest at the
· ··casino and are taken care of by the Tribe.··If
· ··there's any people in this nation that are
· ··respectful and are good stewards of the land, it
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· ··is the Indian population.··We should learn from
· ··them, not telling them about the concerns of an
· ··eagle.··They worshipped that bird before it ever
· ··became an emblem for this country and for us.
· · · · ·I would also like you to take into
· ··consideration, as you heard from the mayors -· ··the numerous mayors, both of which will be
· ··affected by your decision to move forward with
· ··this project, that they are condoling it, that
· ··they look forward to it.
· · · · ·Yes, there's going to have to be
· ··infra-structural projects that will probably
· ··have to be done in the future, and I'm sure the
· ··Tribe will step up with that.··That's also
· ··something for the villages to think about, put
· ··that in writing, that it will not affect the
· ··taxpayers that the infrastructure that supports
· ··this casino -- gambling casino will be supported
· ··by the Indian Tribe.
· · · · ·But I am in full support of this, and I'd
· ··like to read you this one quote that I go by.
· ··I'm a proud veteran that has served my nation,
· ··and when I came back out, I served in the public
· ··as an elected official.··I kept all my promises.
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· ··I always woke up and said this to myself and
· ··hope others say it in this state that we now use
· ··gambling to support the budget:··There are no
· ··bad ideas when it comes to improving the quality
· ··of life for those around us, only those
· ··squandered by he or she not to act upon them to
· ··make them a reality and not a dream.
· · · · ·I hope this isn't a dream, and I hope it
· ··becomes a reality for these residents.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Ruben Collazo.
· · · · ·MR. COLLAZO:··My name is Ruben Collazo.
· ··I'm a representative for the Bricklayers
· ··International Union.··We represent hundreds of
· ··members that live in DeKalb County and the
· ··surrounding counties.··Some of them are here
· ··this evening.
· · · · ·We are here in support of the plans for
· ··construction of the gaming project facility.··We
· ··believe this project will stimulate the economy
· ··not only in Shabbona after construction is over
· ··but also during the construction phase.··This
· ··project will mean jobs for members of our
· ··community, as well as tax dollars for the state
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· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Kathy Sands.
· · · · ·The next speakers will be Denny Sands,
· ··Doug Faivre, Kathy Gilroy and John Ecker.
· · · · ·MS. SANDS:··I know that people do not like
· ··change -· · · · ·MR. DOIG:··Ma'am, can you speak closer?
· · · · ·MS. SANDS:··Closer, okay.
· · · · ·I know that people do not like change, but
· ··change is part of life.··I know from speaking
· ··with the Prairie Band for 20 years and touring
· ··their operation in Kansas that what they will
· ··build here will be a beautiful addition to our
· ··community.
· · · · ·I know what 400 jobs means.··The houses
· ··sitting in town will be filled and probably new
· ··homes built.··I know that this means school
· ··enrollment will increase.··I know it will help
· ··draw more businesses to open in our community.
· ··I know it will probably save our grocery store.
· ··I know that they donate quietly to local
· ··organizations.··For example, the new addition to
· ··our local museum was partially funded by them.
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· ··They brought their heavy-duty equipment from
· ··Kansas to repair the fish rearing pond in the
· ··state park and have dedicated money for the
· ··proposed bike path.
· · · · ·I know that if even a dollar is spent in
· ··our gas stations, bars, soon-to-be car wash, the
· ··golf course or the cafe, say, by just a third or
· ··a half of the expected 930,000 visitors to the
· ··bingo facility, this will infuse hundreds of
· ··thousands of dollars into our dying village.
· ··How can anyone who loves this community say no
· ··to that?
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Denny Sands.
· · · · ·MR. SANDS:··Before I read my statement, I
· ··would like to make a little comment.··I have
· ··been involved with the state park since it was
· ··incepted out there at the park and have
· ··currently been one of the constituents out
· ··there.
· · · · ·We heard these same arguments why the
· ··state park shouldn't be there:··It's going to
· ··bring in crime; it's going to bring in trash;
· ··there's going to be people we don't know,
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· ··strangers.··How can strangers come into our town
· ··and make us feel comfortable?
· · · · ·Well, the park over the years has drawn 14
· ··million people.··It's been a very good addition
· ··to the park.··And a lot of the fears that people
· ··have when change comes, we had the same fears 45
· ··years ago when the park first came -- was talked
· ··about.··They just haven't happened.
· · · · ·Get my glasses here.
· · · · ·While I'm getting my glasses, I'd just
· ··like to make a note that this is a Class II
· ··facility; it is not a casino.
· · · · ·The economic impact of the Prairie Band
· ··will be very positive.··The project is expected
· ··to draw annually over 900,000 visitors to our
· ··community.··If only 10 percent stop by our local
· ··businesses, that's potentially 90,000 new
· ··customers for our local businesses.
· · · · ·Normally when large businesses come into a
· ··community, that business asks for a tax break or
· ··other incentives.··The Prairie Band, on the
· ··other hand, is not asking for tax breaks or
· ··other incentives.··They, instead, offer tens of
· ··thousands of dollars back to the community.
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· ··Examples:··Number one, 400 permanent jobs;
· ··Number two, $800,000 to DeKalb County
· ··government; Number three, 0.25 percent goes to
· ··the Village of Shabbona, which would be
· ··approximately $80,000 a year.··The Shabbona Fire
· ··Department will receive funds for staffing and
· ··equipment.··The DeKalb County Sheriff's
· ··Department will receive compensation for
· ··staffing and security.··The Tribe will continue
· ··to make donations that they have been doing to
· ··area and non-profit organizations.
· · · · ·We in Illinois need jobs.··Jobs provide a
· ··catalyst to keep our home values high, our taxes
· ··as low as possible and our way of life secure.
· ··Nearly every eatery and gas station in our area
· ··has gaming machines.··If we approve gaming to be
· ··put in our taverns and restaurants, how can we
· ··deny the Tribe the same rights?··If we speak out
· ··against the Prairie Band's rights, what message
· ··are we really sending?
· · · · ·The days of large businesses coming to
· ··Illinois to provide manufacturing jobs are over.
· ··The job fields that are growing in today's
· ··economy are service and recreational jobs.
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· ··Gaming in Illinois is a job creator and a tax
· ··revenue source.··Providing recreational
· ··activities for the public is a win-win
· ··opportunity.
· · · · ·Other towns fight very, very hard to have
· ··the opportunity we have.··We should fight very,
· ··very hard to make this a reality.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Doug Faivre.
· · · · ·MR. FAIVRE:··My name is Doug Faivre.··I
· ··live in Shabbona.
· · · · ·One thing, Denny just made the comment
· ··about 400 full-time jobs.··In talking to him the
· ··other day, they are all minimum wage jobs.··He's
· ··never mentioned, in talking to him, at all
· ··anything about construction jobs or anything
· ··because chances are that's all going to be by
· ··the Indians.··All of the actual casino workers,
· ··other than the wait staff, the janitors, stuff
· ··like that, are all Indians, the way it was
· ··explained to us.
· · · · ·He talked about the agreement with the
· ··sheriff's department, having three people for
· ··security and stuff like that.··That's all at the
· ··casino.··That's -- we don't have a police
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· ··department in Shabbona.··We're taken care of by
· ··the County sheriff's department, and there's not
· ··a whole lot of patrol through here usually as
· ··far as what's -- what we are going to have as
· ··far as traffic with the casino.
· · · · ·Every place that has a casino, I don't
· ··think there's any denying it by anybody that
· ··crime goes up in that area.··And he can say, Oh,
· ··it's just like the state park, they were saying
· ··the same thing about the state park.··Bull.
· ··With a casino, there's a lot more troubles every
· ··place that they put it.
· · · · ·And so I strongly, strongly ask you, do
· ··not put this thing in down there.··They're just
· ··going to destroy a very, very good community
· ··that we have.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Kathy Gilroy.
· · · · ·MS. GILROY:··Good evening.··My name is
· ··Kathy Gilroy, and I'm a volunteer with Illinois
· ··Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems
· ··and also with the Northern Illinois
· ··Anti-Gambling Task Force.
· · · · ·Our members oppose bringing a 24-hour
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· ··casino to Shabbona.··Ten Illinois casinos have
· ··not helped the financial condition of the State
· ··of Illinois.··In fact, the casinos themselves
· ··are complaining that their revenues are
· ··declining because of a glut of video gambling
· ··machines in bars and restaurants.··When studies
· ··projecting revenues for the Shabbona casino were
· ··first done, there were no legal video gambling
· ··machines in Illinois.··When Indian gambling
· ··parlors first opened in other states, there were
· ··no competing casinos.··If competition for the
· ··gambling dollar didn't matter, Atlantic City
· ··would be thriving.··But, as other casinos have
· ··opened, four casinos in Atlantic City are in
· ··bankruptcy.
· · · · ·Illinois bingo revenues have been
· ··decreasing every year.··A bingo hall in Shabbona
· ··would not attract tourists.··It would devastate
· ··local families and hurt local retail sales.
· · · · ·A study in Iowa compared retail sales in
· ··non-suburban towns with casinos to retail sales
· ··in non-suburban towns without casinos.··The
· ··study showed that there was a transfer of money
· ··from local retailers to the casinos.
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· · · · ·Illinois has no experience with tribal
· ··gambling.··Tribes are not subject to the same
· ··laws or taxes as other residents of Illinois.
· ··Our ten Illinois casinos must be closed at least
· ··22 and a half hours per day (sic).··A tribal
· ··casino could be open 24 hours.··Our ten Illinois
· ··casinos do not allow smoking; a tribal casino
· ··could allow smoking.··Our ten Illinois casinos
· ··restrict gambling to age 21 or over; a tribal
· ··casino could allow 18- or 19-year-olds to
· ··gamble.
· · · · ·Studies have shown a correlation between
· ··gambling and jobs.··For each job gained at a
· ··gambling facility, one more person in their
· ··family will become devastated by gambling
· ··addiction.
· · · · ·The projection of over 900,000 visitors in
· ··a year, by the industry's own admission at a
· ··1 percent gambling addiction rate would mean
· ··9,000 addictions.··It's unbelievable.··So
· ··obviously that number is not unique to visitors.
· ··That number of 900,000 represents the same
· ··people going back to gamble again and again,
· ··many of whom will then become addicted.
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· ··organization called COGFA that puts out a report
· ··called Wagering in Illinois that concludes that
· ··Illinois is saturated with gambling.··We do not
· ··support another gambling facility.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··John Ecker.
· · · · ·The next two speakers would be Suzanne
· ··Billman and Peg Dordal.
· · · · ·MR. ECKER:··Hi, my name is John Ecker.··I
· ··am here representing the Waterman/Shabbona
· ··Business Association.··I'm the president of that
· ··association.
· · · · ·The Waterman/Shabbona Business Association
· ··has roughly 75 business members from the
· ··Waterman/Shabbona area.··One of our
· ··association's missions is to understand and
· ··enhance economic opportunities for our members.
· · · · ·Many of our area business owners have been
· ··positive regarding Prairie Band Potawatomi
· ··Nation's application to move forward with their
· ··proposed project.··Many see potential for the
· ··project that the project may offer a needed
· ··economic boost for our communities.··These are
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· ··voices of local business owners facing our
· ··community's economic realities.
· · · · ·As there's voices for and against this
· ··project in our community, the Waterman/Shabbona
· ··Business Association will represent our area
· ··businesses and will strive for all of our
· ··members' economic viability.
· · · · ·Today many of our members' businesses rely
· ··on tourism based on the existing area
· ··attractions.··The Shabbona and Waterman area
· ··currently has over 500,000 visitors each year,
· ··and in 2012 a survey of Shabbona Lake State Park
· ··guests strongly indicated the need for more
· ··activities while visiting our area.
· · · · ·Our area's current attractions definitely
· ··appeal -- definitely benefits from a -- our
· ··beautiful and natural state park and surrounding
· ··rural area.··Maintaining this proven natural
· ··feel will certainly be part of our area's
· ··long-term economic vision for strong and diverse
· ··economy for our community.
· · · · ·If the Nation's plan moves forward, the
· ··Waterman/Shabbona Business Association and its
· ··75 members -- Board that represents the 75
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· ··members will continue to engage our member
· ··businesses and community and strive to realize
· ··the potential benefits additional visitors may
· ··bring to our area.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Suzanne Billman.
· · · · ·MS. BILLMAN:··I am Suzanne Billman.··I
· ··live on McGirr Road about five to seven miles
· ··northeast of Chief Shabbona Preserve and
· ··Shabbona State Park.
· · · · ·Sadly, I have lived in northern Illinois
· ··and DeKalb County for most of my adult life.
· ··And I say "sadly" because, people, have you ever
· ··noticed how little natural beauty there is in
· ··this region?··There are precious few open areas
· ··that are woodsy or watery or prairie.
· · · · ·My husband and I have relied on the
· ··before-mentioned parks weekly to get our dose of
· ··nature, quiet and exercise.··And I do feel
· ··selfish speaking out against this gaming
· ··facility because it doesn't fit my needs, but
· ··there is a bigger picture and it has to do with
· ··nature and what should be our number one
· ··concern, all of our number one concerns.
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· · · · ·The problem is that this facility will
· ··butt right up to one of the very few lovely
· ··natural areas in this county.··When I drive
· ··around here -- I drove from Waterman here
· ··tonight and I drive this county all the time,
· ··this northern Illinois space, I see wide, gray
· ··fields empty of pretty much any natural wonder
· ··and interest, very few trees, very few shrubs,
· ··barely any hedge rows anymore, no roll of the
· ··land and very few wild animals in the fields, of
· ··course.
· · · · ·So it's the proposed placement of this
· ··facility that really upsets me.··Out of all of
· ··the acres and acres, miles and miles of empty
· ··terrain and farm fields, this is the one spot
· ··this bingo hall has to go?··Next to a preserve
· ··and a state park with one of the only intact
· ··forests left for the public to enjoy?··Next to
· ··one of the only -- or few bodies of water,
· ··manmade of course, here in northern Illinois?
· · · · ·You know the preserve will get trashed,
· ··you know the state park will get trashed and you
· ··know wildlife will suffer.
· · · · ·I was just out there, by the way, on
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· ··Sunday night and Saturday night.··The sun was
· ··going down and the great horned owls were
· ··hooting away.··Do you think he is going to stay
· ··here?··I doubt it.
· · · · ·I say if you have to build it, is there
· ··any way you can swap some land, people?··Is
· ··there any way you can take it to one of the
· ··fields far away from these natural areas?··Take
· ··it to the fields that have had many, many years
· ··of pesticides sprayed on them, chemical
· ··fertilizers dumped on them and farm equipment
· ··compacting them.
· · · · ·Keep the bingo, the asphalt, the lights
· ··and the vehicles as far away as possible from
· ··one of our very few remaining natural preserves.
· · · · ·Thank you.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Peg Dordal.
· · · · ·MS. DORDAL:··Good evening.··Thanks for
· ··letting me speak.··I'm Peg Dordal.··I live a
· ··half a mile away on South University Road.
· · · · ·Gosh, I have an awful lot of respect for
· ··the Native people, always have.··And, in fact,
· ··my children travel to South Dakota to the Kyle
· ··area to Sundance every year with family.
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· ··Recently we lost a wonderful leader, his name
· ··was Ed, a young man.··They were afraid of his
· ··horses.··His life was dedicated to keeping
· ··people whole.
· · · · ·I spoke with him on this issue that I was
· ··very concerned that the casino would be right
· ··across the road from me.··And my boys at the
· ··time were quite young, and I was terrified that
· ··they would get seduced, you know, into the
· ··business and the lifestyle, because they were
· ··pretty vulnerable, young men.··He looked at me
· ··and he said, Peg, there are Native people that
· ··oppose casinos on the reservations.··It's okay.
· ··You don't have to feel guilty that you have
· ··those feelings.
· · · · ·And my big question is, what's up with
· ··24/7?··What's up with that?··I have a lot of
· ··respect for the -- some of the income going back
· ··to the people who need help with housing, to pay
· ··rent and all sorts of needs, all sorts of needs.
· · · · ·24/7 is something different.··It is -- it
· ··just says a whole lot more than just a bingo
· ··place.
· · · · ·MS. ALVAREZ:··Thank you.··That is all the
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· · · · ·MR. DOIG:··Is there anybody else who's
· ··still wanting to speak?··No.
· · · · ·Okay.··Again, thank you all very much for
· ··coming.··If you would like to kind of stay
· ··abreast of the documents that come out, make
· ··sure you get your name on the sign-up sheet out
· ··front.
· · · · ·Thanks again, and have a great night.
· · · · · · · · ··(The hearing was concluded at
· · · · · · · · · ·8:00 p.m.)
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·1· · · · · · ··U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
· · · · · · · ·BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
· ·
·2· ·
·IN RE:· · · · · · · · · · · · ··)
· ·
·3· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)
·PRAIRIE BAND POTAWATOMI NATION'S)SCOPING HEARING
· ·
·4· ·PROPOSED TRUST ACQUISITION AND··)
·GAMING FACILITY PROJECT· · · · ·)Kishwaukee College
· ·
·5· ·DEKALB COUNTY, ILLINOIS· · · · ·)Malta, Illinois
·
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·6· ·
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·7· · · · · · ·I, Callie S. Bodmer, hereby certify that I
·
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·8· ·am a Certified Shorthand Reporter of the State of
·
· ·
·9· ·Illinois; that I am the one who, by order and at the
·
· ·
10· ·direction of the Department of the Interior Bureau
·
· ·
11· ·of Indian Affairs, reported in shorthand the
·
· ·
12· ·proceedings had or required to be kept in the
· ·
13· ·above-entitled case; and that the above and
·
· ·
14· ·foregoing is a full, true and complete transcript of
·
· ·
15· ·my said shorthand notes so taken.
·
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16· · · · · · ·Dated at Dixon, Illinois, this 8th day of
·
· ·
17· ·February, 2016.
·
· ·
18· ·
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· · · · · · · ··Callie S. Bodmer
· ·
20· · · · · · · · ··Certified Shorthand Reporter
· · · · · · · ··Registered Professional Reporter
· ·
21· · · · · · · · ··IL License No. 084-004489
· · · · · · · ··IA License No. 1361
· ·
22· · · · · · · · ··P.O. Box 381
· · · · · · · · ··Dixon, Illinois 61021
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