The comment period for the Enterprise Rancheria casino project is over, but backers said it might be a few more months before they get the final word from the federal government on whether they can proceed.

Charles Altekruse, a spokesman for the rancheria tribe, said the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs just began a tribal consultation process reviewing Indian casinos nationwide, a process not expected to be completed until November.

"We're hoping the decision would come around that time," he said.

If the BIA gives approval for the Estom Yumeka Maidu tribe to take land near Sleep Train Amphitheatre into trust, the next step would be forming a tribal agreement with the state to operate a casino.

Tuesday ended the comment period for the casino's environmental impact statement, which identified potential areas of concern where the casino would impact nearby water, air quality, traffic and other issues.

John Rydzik, an official with the BIA who oversaw the collection of comments on the EIS, said he couldn't speculate on how soon the bureau would issue a record of decision on the casino project. He said the bureau will first have to analyze the comments received.

One of those weighing in, Wheatland resident Sandy Gilbert, said in her comment letter she was concerned too much of the EIS is outdated, given it was based on data collected before the Yuba-Sutter region entered a deep recession in 2008.

She added, "There is no discussion on the Yuba County advisory vote, wherein the clear majority of Yuba County residents were opposed to a casino in Yuba County."

Gilbert, of the anti-casino group Citizens for a Better Way, referred to a 2005 measure where more than 52 percent of the voters opposed the casino, though the measure carries no official weight.

In her comments, Gilbert also said a memorandum of understanding between Yuba County and the tribe to address casino impacts was invalid, because neither the county nor the tribe had the standing to do so.

The proposed casino would be a 40-acre development on Forty Mile Road north of Wheatland, and would include a hotel, conference center, spa and retail.

Backers have said the casino would provide Yuba County with $32 million annually in economic benefits, while detractors have said it would increase poverty and crime.

Enterprise Rancheria's casino was first proposed eight years ago, but even if the end is in sight now, Altekruse said, it's still hard to be patient.

"It's easier because we're seeing a light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "But we're taking nothing for granted."

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at 749-4709 or bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com .