WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Carl J. Artman today announced that the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Gaming (OIG) has cancelled its October 25, 2007, tribal consultation meeting on tribal gaming revenue allocation plans (RAPs), which was to be held at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino in Lakeside, Calif., due to Southern California’s wildland fire emergency, which is occurring near the facility’s location.
“On behalf of all Indian Affairs employees, I want to express our concern and support for the communities directly affected by the Witch Fire emergency,” Artman said. “I have directed Bureau of Indian Affairs personnel to assist the tribes impacted by this emergency in their firefighting efforts. Indian Affairs also is participating with the National Interagency Fire Center’s efforts to mobilize federal resources and assistance from across the country to aid the affected communities.”
The October 25 consultation meeting was the first of two that the OIG has scheduled on the development of proposed regulations amending existing regulations in 25 CFR Part 290 which establish criteria for implementing Section 11(b)(3) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The OIG is proposing amendments to 25 CFR Part 290 that modify the procedures for submitting, reviewing and approving tribal RAPs for allocating and distributing net gaming revenues from class II and/or class III tribal gaming activities.
The next tribal consultation meeting is scheduled for October 30, 2007, at the Indian Affairs National Indian Programs Training Center, 1011 Indian School Road, N.W. (12th Street and Menaul Blvd.), Suite 233-234, Albuquerque, N.M. The meeting will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon local time. For further information, please contact the OIG at 202-219-4066.
The October 25 meeting will be rescheduled in California with date, time and place to be announced as soon as arrangements have been finalized.