PUBLIC HEARING DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Ho Chunk Nation - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PUBLIC HEARING DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Ho Chunk Nation Beloit Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project DECEMBER 11, 2018 @ 5:00 P.M. Lead Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Region, Norman Point II Building 5600 W. American Boulevard, Suite 500 Bloomington, MN 55347

Purpose of Hearing  To obtain public comments and feedback on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) prepared for the Ho-Chunk Nation Beloit Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project (Proposed Project)  Public feedback and input is integral part of the NEPA Review Process

Proposed Action/Proposed Project  Ho-Chunk Nation has submitted applications to the BIA requesting: Trust acquisition of 33-acre Proposed Fee-to-Trust 1) Property in the City of Beloit. 2) Issuance of a 2-part determination by the Secretary of the Interior making site eligible for gaming in accordance with IGRA  The Nation subsequently proposes to develop the site with:  Casino  Hotel  Retail  Water Park  Associated parking and infrastructure

Proposed Trust Property / Project Site  Proposed Trust Property – 33 acres  Proposed land to be taken into federal trust  Project Site – 73.5 acres  Consists of Proposed Trust Property plus adjacent 40.5 acres owned by the Tribe that would remain within City’s jurisdiction  Currently used for agricultural purposes  Located in the City of Beloit, bordered by Interstate 39/90, Willowbrook Road, and East Colley Road, 0.5 miles north of the Illinois border  Zoned by City as “General Manufacturing” 4

Regional Location 5

Project Site Aerial 6

NEPA and Proposed Federal Actions  NEPA requires federal agencies to take into account the environmental impact of federal actions and projects prior to implementation  Environmental Impact Statement – required for major federal actions significantly impacting the quality of the environment  In this case, the proposed major federal actions requested by the Ho-Chunk Nation are: Trust acquisition of Proposed Fee-to-Trust 1) Property 2) Issuance of a 2-part determination by the Secretary of the Interior

EIS FLOWCHART Public Comment Period / Hearing • Public invited to identify potential issues, alternatives, and impacts to Notice of Intent assess in the EIS to prepare EIS Analysis of Public • Notice placed in Federal Register and Comments newspapers that BIA intends to prepare an EIS • Formulation of responses to comments Scoping Final EIS • Identification of potential issues, • Notice of Availability placed in Federal alternatives, and impacts to be Register and newspapers assessed in the EIS Draft EIS Record of Decision (ROD) • Notice of Availability placed in Federal Register and Newspapers

Dates for Ho-Chunk EIS Process Notice of Intent and Scoping  Notice of Intent (NOI): November 26, 2012  Scoping Comment Period: November 26 – December 26, 2012  Public Scoping Hearing: December 13, 2012  Scoping Report published: January 31, 2013 Draft EIS  Federal Register Notice of Availability (NOA): November 9, 2018  Draft EIS Comment Period: November 9 – December 24, 2018  Public Hearing: December 11, 2018 We are here Final EIS  Issue Final EIS: available for minimum 30-day waiting period  Includes responses to substantive comments on Draft EIS Record of Decision (public statement of agency decision) 9

Draft EIS Outline  Addresses the following related to the Proposed Action/Proposed Project:  Section 1: Introduction / Purpose and Need  Section 2: Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives  Section 3: Affected Environment/Existing Conditions  Section 4: Environmental Consequences of Considered Alternatives  Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Impacts  Section 5: Mitigation Measures

Purpose and Need for Proposed Action  Facilitate tribal self-sufficiency, self- determination, and economic development  Satisfy Department’s land acquisition policy as articulated in 25 C.F.R. Part 151  Satisfy the principle goal of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act as articulated in 25 U.S.C § 2701 11

Draft EIS Alternatives  Alternative A – Proposed Project  Alternative B – Reduced Casino and Commercial Development  Alternative C – Retail Development  Alternative D – No Action/No Development 12

Alternative A – Proposed Project  Development of Project Site with:  139,700 square-foot casino  300-room hotel  175,000 square-foot retail outlet  40,000 square-foot water park  convention center, dining facilities, parking, and supporting facilities  Approximately 1,985 new full-time equivalent employees within Rock and Winnebago Counties  Public Utilities:  Water Supply – Connect to City’s existing infrastructure  Wastewater – Connect to City’s existing sewer line 13

Rendering

 Site plan

Alternative B – Reduced Casino and Commercial Development  Development of Project Site with:  99,500 square-foot casino  dining, parking, and supporting facilities  Eliminates retail, hotel and water park components of Alt A  Approximately 1,127 new full-time equivalent employees within Rock and Winnebago Counties 16

 Site plan 17

Alternative C – Retail Development  Develop Project Site with:  175,000 square-foot retail complex  parking, and supporting facilities  Same amount of retail as Alt A but no Casino/Hotel complex  Approximately 236 new full-time equivalent employees within Rock and Winnebago Counties 18

 Site plan 19

Issues Analyzed in the Draft EIS  Geology and Soils  Land Use  Water Resources  Public Services  Air Quality and  Noise Greenhouse Gases  Hazardous Materials  Biological Resources  Aesthetics  Cultural Resources  Cumulative Effects  Socioeconomic  Indirect Effects Conditions  Mitigation Measures  Transportation and Circulation 20

Draft EIS BMPs and Mitigation Measures  Geology and Soils  Comply with NPDES Construction General Permit for all disturbed sites, includes preparing a SWPPP  Water Resources  Use of LIDs measures and on-site stormwater management  Stormwater conveyance shall follow City standards  Air Quality  Implement dust control BMPs  Implement measures to reduce CAP, GHG, and DPM emissions during construction and operation

Draft EIS BMPs and Mitigation Measures  Biological Resources  Conduct pre-construction surveys for migratory birds and, if found, implement measures to avoid adverse effects.  Cultural and Paleontological Resources  Procedures for the inadvertent discovery archaeological or paleontological resources or human remains  Socioeconomics  Nation shall make payment to City each quarter equaling 2 percent of Net Win  Nation shall maintain its programs and policies for the assessment, identification, and assistance of compulsive gamblers

Draft EIS BMPs and Mitigation Measures  Noise  Construction shall not be conducted between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am  Use of mufflers, shields and minimize idling time  Transportation  Nation shall make fair-share payments to improve impacted intersections and roadway segments  Hazardous Materials  Follow BMPS for handling and storage of potentially hazardous materials  Stop work if contaminated groundwater is encountered and follow USEPA guidance on sampling and remediation.

Draft EIS BMPs and Mitigation Measures  Public Services  Nation will make $2,000,000 Infrastructure Down Payment to City and pay connection and monthly service fees  Final design of sewer and water system will be in reasonable conformity to City standards

Public Review of DEIS  The DEIS is available for review at:  BIA Midwest Regional Office 5600 West American Blvd Ste 500 Bloomington, MN 55437  Beloit Public Library 605 Eclipse Blvd Beloit, WI 53511  www.Ho-ChunkBeloitEIS.com

Next Steps – Final EIS and ROD  All comments due to BIA by December 24, 2018  After public review/comment period on Draft EIS has closed, BIA will prepare Final EIS  Respond to comments on Draft EIS  Revised Draft EIS  Final EIS will be made available to public for review  At least 30 days after publication of Final EIS, BIA may issue Record of Decision (ROD) that includes decision on whether or not to approve the Proposed Action  ROD marks the end of NEPA process

BIA Contact Information You may mail or hand carry written comments to: Timothy LaPointe, Regional Director Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Region 5600 West American Blvd Ste 500 Bloomington, MN 55437 You may email comments to: Scott Doig, Environmental Protection Specialist Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Region E-mail: scott.doig@bia.gov Email Subject: “Draft EIS Comments, Ho-Chunk Nation Beloit Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project” For further information contact: Timothy Guyah, Archaeologist Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Region 5600 West American Blvd Ste 500 Bloomington, MN 55437 Phone: (612) 725-4512 E-mail: timothy.guyah@bia.gov 27