The federal government has given the approval for an Oroville American Indian tribe to build a casino/resort in Yuba County.
Enterprise Rancheria, which was first proposed by the Estom Yumeka Maidu tribe nine years ago, meets the qualifications for being established outside the tribe's existing reservation, according to Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs.
By federal law, the casino proposal now has one year to receive a concurrence from Gov. Jerry Brown before land for the casino can be taken into trust. Brown has not yet expressed much of an opinion on new Indian casinos, either in support or opposition.
In its decision issued Friday, the federal government cited the tribe's memorandum of understanding with both Yuba County and Marysville to mitigate possible impacts from the casino as reasons for support. The decision also found cause to support because the casino would be in a "sports and entertainment" zone in the county, near Sleep Train Amphitheatre.
The decision analysis found the casino would generate net revenues of up to $46.2 million by its seventh year, with $19.3 million going to the tribe's government.
Another tribe with a nearby casino, the United Auburn Indian Community, could not show evidence of a new casino in Yuba County being detrimental to its Thunder Valley Casino, the federal government's decision states.
Estom Yumeka Maidu tribal representatives could not be reached for comment by deadline Friday.