Earlier this year, in the last days of Joe Biden’s administration in the United States, one California Native American Tribe secured an important approval for a proposed project. That’s the case for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, who received a landmark approval for their proposed casino project in Vallejo, which has a price tag of $700 million.

Now, several other California Native American Tribes are challenging the approval of the project and have filed lawsuits against the US Department of Interior (DOI).

DOI Faces Several Lawsuits over Casino Project Approval

On Tuesday this week, the United Auburn Indian Community confirmed it submitted its legal claim in federal court, challenging the recent approval of the Vallejo casino project by the DOI. In its lawsuit, the federally recognized Tribe alleged that the approval of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ project was done in violation of a range of federal laws and regulations.

Notably, the United Auburn Indian Community claimed that the Vallejo casino project violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, as well as the Indian Reorganization Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The Tribe contended DOI’s decision, which was described as “rushed” in the lawsuit, came “just days before the end of the Biden Administration.”

In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the DOI didn’t adequately consult with tribal governments, which are likely to be affected by the massive project. This, the Tribe claimed, was a “clear violation of long-standing federal policy.”

Besides the United Auburn Indian Community, the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, with the former being a non-gaming, while the latter being a gaming tribe, have also challenged DOI’s decision for the Vallejo casino. The aforementioned tribes have also filed companion lawsuits in another move in opposition to the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ $700 million casino project.

The Project’s Approval Is “A Blatant Violation of Federal Law,” Claims the Lawsuit

This isn’t the first time the Scotts Valley casino project has raised concerns. Last month, opponents of the proposal shared their concerns about the potential increase in crimes that can come as a result of the new casino. While supporters argued the project would bring economic benefits, others questioned whether those benefits would be worth it.

From the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ point of view, the project approval represented a landmark achievement. This is because the Tribe has been trying to establish such a venue for decades, but its previous efforts hit a brick wall. Now, they hope the project would bring economic stimulus, creating thousands of new jobs, Tribal housing and administrative buildings, as well as other relevant infrastructure.

John L. Williams, the United Auburn Indian Community’s chairman, disagreed with the project and said its approval represents “a blatant violation of federal law and sets a dangerous precedent for tribes that have followed the established rules for Indian gaming.” Moreover, he explained: “For decades, our tribe has worked to uphold the integrity of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and prevent opportunistic gaming proposals that ignore history and harm responsible tribal governments.”

Williams warned that if the decision is upheld, it may open “the floodgates for off-reservation casinos in communities that have no historical or cultural ties to the tribes seeking them.” Still, he said the Indian Community hopes that the courts would recognize the violations of the federal regulations.