The Coquille Indian Tribe's proposed casino project in Medford, Oregon moves forward despite opposition from neighboring tribes. The US Interior Department (DOI) recently approved a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), bringing the project one step closer to final approval.

A coalition of opposing tribes, including the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Karuk Tribe, and Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation, failed to secure a temporary restraining order against the DOI. The tribes had filed a lawsuit on December 23 in Washington DC federal court, challenging the department's authority to issue the FEIS.

Key points of contention include:

• The Coquille Tribe's ancestral claim to Medford, located 168 miles from their Coos Bay base
• Opposition from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and US Congresspeople
• Claims that the DOI relied on "invalid" federal regulations from the Council on Environmental Quality
• Allegations of insufficient tribal consultation regarding local impact

US District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta denied the motion, stating that the FEIS is not yet a final agency action and remains reviewable. The opposing tribes must now wait for the DOI's final record of decision (ROD), which could come as soon as Monday.

Judy Farm, CEO of the Coquille Tribe's economic development arm, Tribal One, dismissed the lawsuit as competition-driven, noting that opposing tribes "had over 12 years to comment" during the permitting process.

The DOI's final decision will determine whether the land can be placed into federal trust for gaming purposes, potentially resolving this long-standing tribal gaming dispute.

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