A judge in California has ruled in favor of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) and blocked plans for a Koi Nation casino development.
The development had been approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), but the FIGR filed a lawsuit challenging the decision.
Judge Rita F. Lin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the DOI official who authorized the land-into-trust transaction and gaming approval lacked the necessary authority.
The court also determined that the DOI did not properly consult with FIGR as required under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Additionally, it failed to adequately consider cultural resource impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
