TULARE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional Office, has determined that the proposed acquisition of 17 parcels, encompassing a total of 40� acres, in trust by the United States for the Tule River Tribe (Tribe), is not a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The Bureau's determination was based upon review and consideration of the comments received during the Environmental Assessment public comment period, beginning June 24, 2010 and ending July 26, 2010.

The 40-acre parcel is located in a portion of Southwest 1/4 Quarter of the Northeast 1/4 Quarter of Section 8, Township 22 South, and Range 27 East, of the Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian, Tulare County, California. The parcel is comprised of 40� acres and is located within the city limits of Porterville, California, adjacent to the Porterville Municipal Airport. The parcel is known as the Tule River Airpark and lies within the city's Enterprise Zone, which is zoned for recreational-oriented uses. The City of Porterville's General Plan designated the site for Light Industrial Uses and the site is within the M-1(AS) (Light Industrial - Airport Safety Overlay) Zone. The Assessor's Parcel Numbers for these 17 properties are 302-400-001 through 302-400-017.

The proposed action is a fee to-to-trust action with no change in land use. The Tribe is seeking to increase and diversify their revenue base to ensure future stability for the Tribe and its members.

For information or to obtain a copy of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), please contact: Patrick O'Mallan, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825 or at (916) 978-6044.

Additionally, copies of the EA and FONSI are available for review at the Porterville Public Library, 41 W. Thurman Ave, Porterville, CA. Copies are also available for public review at the Tule River Tribal Office located at 340 North Reservation Road, Porterville, California 93258 or online at http://www.tulerivertribe-nsn.gov/.
 
Appeared in: The Porterville Recorder on 09/02/2010, 09/09/2010, 09/16/2010 and 09/23/2010