A Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared to analyze the potential environmental consequences of the Tejon Indian Tribe’s (Tribe) application for a proposed 306-acre fee-to-trust transfer, and the subsequent development of a casino resort and associated support facilities in an incorporated portion of Kern County, California approximately immediately west of the town of Mettler, and approximately 14 miles south of the City of Bakersfield. The property is comprised of four parcels: Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APN’s) 238-204-02, 238-204-04, 238-204-07 and 238-204-14. The Proposed Project includes a casino with a 400-room hotel, entertainment and retail space, meeting rooms, and restaurants; a fire and police station; RV Park; and associated facilities, such as water treatment and disposal facilities and parking lots.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is the federal agency that is charged with reviewing and approving tribal applications to take land into federal trust status and is Lead Agency for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The BIA issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) on which opened a public scoping period to identify potential issues, concerns, and alternatives to be considered in the EIS. The NOI described the Proposed Action and announced the initiation of the formal scoping process and the 30-day public scoping comment period that concluded on September 14, 2015. A notice was also published in the Bakersfield Californian on August 13 and August 16, 2015. A public scoping meeting was held on September 1, 2015 in the City of Bakersfield. A Scoping Report is available which describes the EIS process, explains the purpose and need for the Proposed Action, describes the Proposed Project and alternatives, and summarizes the issues identified during the scoping process. Appendices to the Scoping Report include all comment letters received by the BIA and the public hearing transcript.

A Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on June 12, 2020. The comment period for the Draft EIS remained open until July 27, 2020. A virtual public hearing was held for the Draft EIS on July 8, 2020, via Zoom. Click Here to view the Draft EIS overview presentation. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the BIA reviewed the comments received and prepared the Final EIS.

The Notice of Availability for the Final EIS was published in the Federal Register and in the Bakersfield Californian on October 23, 2020. The 30-day waiting period ended on November 22, 2020.

On January 8, 2021, the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs signed a Record of Decision (ROD) and issued a Secretarial Determination of gaming eligibility pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act for the property in unincorporated Kern County, California.

For Further Information Contact: Chad Broussard, Environmental Protection Specialist, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W–2820, Sacramento, California 95825; telephone: (916) 978–6165; e-mail: chad.broussard@bia.gov.