An Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared for the Pit River Indian Tribe (Tribe) for the Burney Fee-to-Trust and Housing/Tribal Council Chambers/Offices/Meeting Space Project. The Tribe owns 65.25 acres of land on seven individual parcels (subject property) located adjacent to the Pit River Casino in Burney, Shasta County, California. The Tribe is requesting that the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) take the 65.25 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 housing, Tribal Council chambers, offices, and meeting space and associated parking and infrastructure on the Project Site (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 50 miles northeast of Redding, California. The included parcels are located south of/below SR 299 and are bisected by Tamarack Avenue. Most lie west of the Pit River Casino though one lies to the north and one to the east.
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 pitriver-burney-ea.com and at the Burney Public Library at 37116 Main Street, Burney, CA 96013.
A 508 compliant version can be provided upon request.
Public Comment Period
The public comment period for the EA will be open for 30 days, beginning on December 4, 2024 and ending on January 3, 2025. The public comment period has been extended to January 9, 2025.