A preliminary Draft Environmental Impact Statement concluded that there would be no detriment to the land the Cayuga Indians are seeking to place into trust, according to an attorney for the Cayuga Nation.
“There would be no negative environmental impact because the land would be used precisely as it was used before, mainly for the operation of two Class 2 gaming facilities, two convenience stores that sell cigarettes and gasoline and therefore, there wouldn't be any environmental impact,” said Lee Alcott, an attorney representing the Cayuga Indian Nation.
The document was prepared by AKRF, a consultant out of White Plains hired by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he said.
In anticipation of the public release of DEIS, Cayuga and Seneca counties will be holding a public information meeting about the Cayuga Indian Nation's land-into-trust application at 7 p.m. Wed. Feb. 25. Those who attend will be given an opportunity to comment on the application and given information about how to respond to the DEIS after it becomes public.
“The purpose of the meeting is to make citizens aware of the issues involved and the potential environmental impact of land being placed into trust and thereby becoming sovereign territory not subject to local jurisdiction and not subject to property taxation,” said Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee David Dresser, who is also on the board of supervisors in Seneca County.
A Web site launched by the companies last month will also be discussed at next week's meeting, said Legislator Raymond Lockwood, R-Fleming.
“We want to introduce the Web site to the people and to bring people up to speed about the issue,” he said.
As of this week, there were approximately 45 comments on the Web site on both sides of the issue, said Harris Beach attorney Philip Spellane. The company is representing both counties on the land-into-trust issue.
County Attorney Frederick Westphal has not yet reviewed the preliminary DEIS, he said, but he will have more details available next week.
Although the counties are given a 30-day period to comment on the findings, Westphal said he will be asking for an extension, “to allow us more time to review the document and to respond.”
The document was prepared by AKRF, a consultant out of White Plains hired by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he said.
In anticipation of the public release of DEIS, Cayuga and Seneca counties will be holding a public information meeting about the Cayuga Indian Nation's land-into-trust application at 7 p.m. Wed. Feb. 25. Those who attend will be given an opportunity to comment on the application and given information about how to respond to the DEIS after it becomes public.
“The purpose of the meeting is to make citizens aware of the issues involved and the potential environmental impact of land being placed into trust and thereby becoming sovereign territory not subject to local jurisdiction and not subject to property taxation,” said Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee David Dresser, who is also on the board of supervisors in Seneca County.
A Web site launched by the companies last month will also be discussed at next week's meeting, said Legislator Raymond Lockwood, R-Fleming.
“We want to introduce the Web site to the people and to bring people up to speed about the issue,” he said.
As of this week, there were approximately 45 comments on the Web site on both sides of the issue, said Harris Beach attorney Philip Spellane. The company is representing both counties on the land-into-trust issue.
County Attorney Frederick Westphal has not yet reviewed the preliminary DEIS, he said, but he will have more details available next week.
Although the counties are given a 30-day period to comment on the findings, Westphal said he will be asking for an extension, “to allow us more time to review the document and to respond.”
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