At a recent board of commissioners meeting in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, the Star Lake Concerned Citizens Group expressed opposition to the White Earth Band of Ojibwe Indians’ proposed third casino in northern Minnesota. The venue would be built on 14.5 acres held in federal trust for the tribe. The county and state control the adjoining 200 acres where the casino parking lot and other facilities would be located.
SLCCG members said they’re concerned about the casino facilities’ potential threat to Star Lake from wastewater treatment and storm water runoff; adverse effects on birds and other wildlife; degraded water quality; potential harm to wetlands; and impacts on wild rice growing on the southwest side of the lake.
Currently the tribe is completing a voluntary Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed casino project. But the SLCCG also wants the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
“We want to let them know how much concern there really is among Star Lake, Dead Lake and Dent communities,” Ty Dayton from the Star Lake Concerned Citizens Group told WDAY-TV. “The rural character of Star Lake and the surrounding area, we fear, will be destroyed forever. That much human pressure on the area is a major concern to what it will do in the intermediate term, maybe the short term and most definitely the long term,” said Dayton.
The five-person county commission has the authority to determine if the EAW has answered all of the environmental questions, in which case an EIS will not be necessary. Later in the process, an environmental review of the adjacent 200 acres near the casino will occur. Then the county planning commission will make a recommendation on the proposed development of non-trust tribal land, and the board of commissioners will make a final determination.
In addition, a comprehensive plan for the casino project will be completed in September. The public will have another opportunity to voice their opinions then.
The proposed Shooting Star Casino in Star Lake could open as soon as 2017, featuring table games and slots, a buffet and bar, gift shop, deli, hotel and RV park. The tribe already operates Shooting Star casinos in Mahnomen and Bagley.
