AKWESASNE , NY – The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council announced it has received notification that the U.S Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has completed its review of the Tribe’s Environmental Assessment (EA) for a Catskills casino. The BIA provided a punch list of items that need to be addressed to strengthen the Tribe’s existing environmental work before the federal agency can issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the development of a Mohawk Class III casino at the Monticello Raceway in Sullivan County, New York.

“We want to thank the BIA for moving forward and conducting their environmental review of our project’s Environmental Assessment,” said Tribal Chief Barbara A. Lazore. She added, “We're encouraged by the information and will work to address the specific issues they identified in a prompt and thorough manner.”

In a letter forwarded to the Tribe from Eastern Region Director Franklin Keel, the agency recommended that the EA be modified accordingly and take into consideration comments that will enhance the environmental study. The Tribe has already started working on the comments and anticipates all recommendations will soon be completed. The improved EA will then be submitted to the BIA for their final review prior to completion of taking land-in-trust for the Tribe at the Raceway site.

The EA was conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and included a full EIS under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The Tribe’s studies were updated in 2004 when federal and state agencies re-affirmed their findings that the proposed casino project will have no adverse impact on the local environment.

The Tribe remains confident that the Department will issue a FONSI following its timely review of the modified EA. To successfully complete the land-in-trust process Governor Pataki's written concurrence is still required to the April 2000 Secretarial two-part determination the project received. The BIA previously indicated that the entire land acquisition process would be completed within two months of receiving the Governor's concurrence.

According to Tribal Chief Lorraine M. White, "The BIA comments and list of specific items to modify the EA is further proof that the Tribe's proposed casino project continues to progress at the federal level. It clearly outlines how the Tribe's environmental work can be strengthened before they can issue a FONSI. The Tribal Council is committed to sufficiently addressing each of the items as soon as possible and will call upon the Governor to join our growing list of elected leaders that support our efforts to create economic opportunities."

Over the past few months, a number of trade union, municipal, county, state, and congressional representatives have expressed their support for the Tribe's efforts. Correspondences have been received from U.S. Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey, New York State Assemblywoman Aileen M. Gunther, Sullivan County Legislator Sam Wohl, and Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council President L. Todd Diorio.

Elected officials acknowledged the nearly ten year of work by the Tribe to develop a casino in Sullivan County and provide an economic boost to the Catskills region. They also stated their support for the Tribal Council's decision to develop a casino at the Monticello Raceway.  The decision to return to the Tribe's original site, a location that currently supports more than one million visitors each year, ensures that any environmental impact will be minimized.

"Support for our project remains solid," said Chief Lazore. She noted, "There is no doubt that our casino will result in short and long-term economic benefits for the Akwesasne community, Sullivan County , and the State. All of the positive impacts of the Tribe's efforts will be assured with the BIA's issuance of a FONSI for our modified EA and the Governor's concurrence to our April 2000 two-part determination."

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The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Mohawk people.