The board of commissioners in Otter Tail County, Minnesota recently approved a 45-day extension to determine if further environmental review is necessary for the White Earth Nation’s proposed Star Lake Casino complex. Commissioners have until August 22 to decide whether the more detailed Environmental Impact Statement is necessary, beyond the Environmental Assessment Worksheet the tribe already submitted.
County Attorney David Hauser said the board will want to take citizens’ and stakeholders’ questions and comments into consideration before making a decision. Larry Krampa of Twin Cities-based Houston Engineering said the White Earth Nation still has information necessary for the environmental review. Developers Lake Region Electric Cooperative also requested more time to analyze numerous comments and to request more information.
The White Earth Nation announced plans in September 2015 to build the Shooting Star Casino and Resort in Otter Tail, with a projected opening in 2017. The facility would be built on 14.5 acres of tribal land, but the parking lot, hotel, RV park and convention center would be built on 225 acres of fee land purchased by the tribe, located within the jurisdiction of Otter Tail County and the state of Minnesota.
Local residents, including the Star Lake Concerned Citizens Group, have expressed strong opposition to the proposal over concerns about the impact of increased traffic on wetlands and the character of the rural area comprised mostly of family owned resorts and seasonal lake cabins.
Besides the 850-slot casino, the project would include a 180-room hotel, bar and grill, restaurant, 10,000 square foot conference center, 6,000 square foot indoor-outdoor pool and spa area, gift shop, entertainment lounge, RV park and other amenities.
The White Earth Nation also operates the Shooting Star Casino, Hotel and Entertainment in Mahnomen and Shooting Star Casino in Bagley, which opened in August 2016.
