The Mechoopda is the good tribe, at least as far as Butte County is concerned.
That's because it is willing to talk about dealing with the impacts a new multi-million-dollar casino project will bring, including thousands of additional car trips on mid-county roads every day.
County Administrative Officer Paul McIntosh said Thursday that he'd seen plans for the casino planned at Highway 99 and Highway 149 by the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of the Chico Rancheria.
We've been familiar with the Mechoopda's project," he said.
The county has the same concerns it did over the Feather Falls and Gold Country casinos in Oroville - traffic and other environmental impacts, and the effect on county services.
But the difference is, the Mechoopda is talking to the county about how to lessen those impacts.
"They have been in fairly constant contact with us regarding their project and expressed a willingness (for a) memorandum of understanding to identify and mitigate those impacts," McIntosh said.
"I'm very pleased with the cooperation we've received thus far with the tribal council and look forward to working with them closely on this enterprise."
McIntosh said they haven't reached the stage of discussions as to what exactly will be done to handle those impacts. But they've "approached this whole project differently that the Berry Creek Rancheria."
The Environmental Assessment, a federal document designed to lay out how the project will affect the local environment, says there's nothing that can't be dealt with.
It also points out the tribe doesn't have to do much with regard to local laws.
The tribe is in the process of putting two parcels totaling 650 acres in trust for construction of the casino.
"Because trust land is owned by the United States, state and local laws regarding such matters as taxation, zoning, land use and the like have no application to these lands," the report notes.
Although the tribe intends to "comply with the anticipated gaming compact between the tribes and the state," it says they're only required to:
Make a "good faith" effort to incorporate policies of state and federal environmental laws "consistent with the tribe's interests."
"Consult" with local jurisdiction and, if requested, meet with them discuss off-side impacts.
Make a good-faith effort to lessen impacts.
Still, tribal chairman Steve C. Santos said an agreement the tribe signed in 1999 requires mitigation for off-reservation impact.
"We anticipate the (new) compact would require the tribe to mitigate for impact."
"Our full intent is to work cooperatively…"
Station Casinos' vice president Leslie Pittman said the tribes representing the last two casinos built have been willing to assist with off-site improvements.
"Both of those tribes entered into memorandums of understating to mitigate against potential impacts. (They spent) significant dollars," said Pittman. I'd anticipate these folks would be willing to help offset negative impacts to the area."
She also indicated that mitigation, including traffic measures, could be part of the state negotiations over the compact.
The environmental assessment on the project projects an additional 3,916 car trips per day on an average weekday, and 5,287 on Saturday, which is expected to be busier. The cars would access the casino from Openshaw Road, which runs off Highway 149.
A project to widen Highway 149 to four lanes has been approved and is just waiting for the state budget to improve enough for money to become available.
However, those plans currently call for an at-grade intersection at Openshaw.
Jon Clark, executive director of the Butte County Association of Governments - the local transportation planning agency - said his agency has had talks with the Mechoopda about what kinds of improvements would needed at that intersection if the casino is built.
He said the tribe's traffic studies would determine whether a traffic light or full interchange might be necessary at Openshaw.
"With a $109 million project, the last thing you want is a signal light in the middle of it," Clark, said. "But with this project it's a case of 'what else can go wrong?"
The Highway 149 project has suffered years of delays due to budget problems and environmental issues, and the cost has more than doubled since it was first approved in 1991.
The environmental report states the Mechoopda will "work with Caltrans" on temporary signals at 149 and 99, 149 and Shippee Road, and 149 and 70.
It also notes that "Caltrans indicated it would incorporate those intersections in it's' projects planned for the area.
The report details 2.21 acres of vernal pools and swales in the 91-acre project area, but it says, "all potential impacts" of the project can be lessened to "less that substantial levels."
Staff Writer Laura Urseny and City Editor Steve Schoonover contributed to this article.
