An Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared for the Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians (Tribe) for the Fee-to-Trust and Housing, Ag, and Commercial Project. The Tribe owns 360.60 acres of land on six individual parcels (subject property) located contiguous to the Tribe’s existing trust land and adjacent to the Casino in Oroville, Butte County, California. The Tribe is requesting that the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) take the 360.60 acres into federal trust pursuant to 25 Code of Federal Regulations Part 151 (proposed action) for the benefit of the Tribe. The Tribe anticipates that the site may be used for non-gaming purposes (Proposed Action), and subsequent development by the Tribe of 164 housing and apartment units, an event center/tasting room for agricultural products, a parking structure, an approximately 77-acre agricultural area, and conversion of an existing metal shop building for use by the Tribe’s housing department; additionally, an emergency access route from the eastern end of Phase 1 to Windfall Way may also be constructed (Proposed Project).
The BIA is the federal lead agency for the proposed action. The process of taking land into trust requires federal discretionary actions and is considered an undertaking, as defined under 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 800.16(y) and, therefore, requires compliance with Title 54 United States Code (U.S.C.) Part 306108, commonly known as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and its implementing regulations, 36 CFR Part 800.
The subject property is located approximately 6 miles southeast of Oroville, California. Local access to the Project Site is provided by Lower Wyandotte Road and Alverda Drive. Lower Wyandotte Road borders the southern portion of the existing Reservation, giving access to two of the parcels. Alverda Drive is a two-lane paved road connecting the tribal amenities and Casino to Lower Wyandotte Road. Alverda Drive would provide access to the event center/tasting room and proposed housing development. The parcels are largely vacant and undeveloped.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to facilitate tribal self-sufficiency, self-determination, and economic development, thus satisfying the Department of Interior’s (Department) land acquisition policy as articulated in the Department’s trust land regulations at 25 CFR Part 151. Based on the analysis and impacts discussed in the EA and comments received during the public review period, the BIA will decide whether to reach a Finding of No Significant Impact, direct further work on the EA, or initiate the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.
Copies of the EA are available for public review on the internet at https://mooretown-robinson-ranch-ea.com and at the Butte County Library Oroville Branch at 1820 Mitchell Avenue Oroville, CA 95966.
Public Comment Period
The public comment period for the EA will be open for 14 days, beginning on December 31, 2024 and ending on January 13, 2025.