Madera casino plans move forward

Madera, California – Plans are moving ahead to build an off-reservation casino along Highway 99 just north of the city of Madera.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs says it is no longer considering an alternative proposal to place the USD 250 million project closer to the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians‘ original reservation in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Casino opponents have argued that allowing a casino to be built 35 miles from the tribe’s ancestral territory would set a bad precedent.

The bureau’s decision on Tuesday to remove the compromise site from consideration means officials can complete a draft environmental impact statement on the Highway 99 location.