The Coquille Indian Tribe's proposed Medford casino project faces a temporary setback as opposing tribes fail to secure an immediate restraining order against the U.S. Interior Department (DOI).

The DOI recently approved a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the casino, bringing the project one step closer to final approval. The proposed site in Medford, Oregon, lies 168 miles from the Coquille Tribe's Coos Bay headquarters.

A coalition including the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Karuk Tribe, and Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation filed a lawsuit on December 23 in Washington DC federal court. They challenged the DOI's authority and claimed insufficient tribal consultation regarding local impacts.

Key points of contention:

• Opposing tribes dispute Coquille's ancestral ties to Medford
• Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and regional U.S. Congresspeople oppose the project
• The lawsuit questions the validity of federal regulations from the Council on Environmental Quality
• Plaintiffs argue Secretary Deb Haaland failed to properly consult affected tribes

U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta denied the restraining order, ruling that the FEIS isn't yet a final agency action and remains reviewable. The opposing tribes must now wait for the DOI's final record of decision (ROD), expected as early as Monday, before pursuing further legal action.

Judy Farm, CEO of the Coquille Tribe's Tribal One, suggests the opposition is primarily motivated by competition concerns, noting that opposing tribes have had "over 12 years to comment" during the permitting process.

Related Articles

Previous Articles