NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
PROPOSED SHINGLE SPRINGS HOTEL AND CASINO PROJECT

AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC)
ACTION: Finding of no Significant Impact (FONSI)

SUMMARY:

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians (Tribe) has submitted a request to the NIGC for the
approval of a management agreement between the Tribe and Lakes, Kean-Argovitz Resorts for
the development, construction and operation of a hotel and class III casino complex on existing
tribal land.

The proposed 381,250 square-foot hotel, gaming and entertainment facility is to be developed on
43.9 acres within the 160 acre Shingle Springs Rancheria. The proposed federal action is the
approval of the management agreement by the NIGC. Approval of this document will allow the
Tribe to construct and operate the proposed gaming facility as planned, subject to the conditions
of the existing Tribe/State Gaming Compact and this FONSI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jim Harriman, Technical Reviewer

National Indian Gaming Commission.

1441 L Street NW, Suite 9100

Washington, DC 20005

(703) 625-9164

PUBLIC AVAILABILITY:

The Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) was reviewed during a thirty-day public comment
period. The Final EA (FEA) for the project has been prepared in full consideration of the
comments received. This FONSI and a copy of responses to the public comments will be
distributed to all commenting persons and agencies. Additionally, all individuals and
organizations on the initial Draft EA mailing list will receive a copy of the FEA. Copies of the
FEA are available upon request at the following address.

Analytical Environmental Services
9309 La Riviera Drive, Suite C
Sacramento, CA 95826

BACKGROUND:

Gaming is a unique opportunity for the Tribe to develop an economic base. This opportunity is
afforded the Tribe under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and was
sanctioned by the State of California through a State/Tribe Gaming Compact approved by the
Governor and the Secretary of the Interior.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT:

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Hotel and Casino Center will be a 381, 250 square-
foot facility on a 43.9 acre site located in El Dorado County with access from US Interstate 50
via a dedicated interchange. The facility will contain a 142,750 square-foot 250 room hotel,
82,800 square-feet of gaming area, 43,300.square-foot of food and beverage service areas, and



155,700 square-feet of support and administrative facilities. An adjacent five-level parking
structure and surface parking will provide 3,000 spaces.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:

An EA documenting the planning process and analyzing implementation impacts of the proposed
project has been completed. No significant unmitigated adverse environmental impacts are
indicated by the EA.

The impact on the quality of the human environment is judged to be of minor adverse impact and
significant beneficial economic impact to both the Tribe and the surrounding communities.
There are no significant unmitigated impacts on public health and safety. The site contains no
eligible or listed National Register of Historic Places sites or any known significant
archeological resources. There are no significant unmitigated adverse impacts on endangered
species or their critical habitat. The proposed land use will not impact declared wetlands. The
proposed land use will not significantly impact water quality or air quality. There are no
significant unmitigated impacts on traffic flow.

REQUIRED MITIGATION
All mitigation measures described in the Final EA (SECTION 6.0 Mitigation Measures) as being

implemented to reduce potentially significant adverse impacts of the project to a point of

insignificance, are conditions of the approval of this project. NIGC’s approval of the

management agreement and signing of this FONSI makes construction and operation of the
. gaming facility contingent upon implementation of these mitigation measures.

This FONSI is expressly made contingent upon the provision of direct access to the Shingle
Springs Rancheria from US Interstate 50 via a dedicated interchange off US 50. The access from
US 50 will replace the current existing access through the Grassy Run subdivision. The US 50
interchange is currently the subject of a joint EIR/EA being prepared by the California
Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) under the
California Environmental Quality Act and NEPA. This contingency shall be deemed satisfied
when CALTRANS and the BIA execute the Cooperative Agreement concerning the design and
construction of the interchange.

DETERMINATION:

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and implementing
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1500-1508), I find that the
proposed federal action, to approve the management agreement between the Shingle Springs
Band of Miwok Indians and Lakes, Kean-Argovitz Resorts, when the mitigation measures are
followed, does not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of
the human environment within the meaning of NEPA. Therefore, an Environmental Impact
Statement is not required for this proposal.

ms ili of (2p. (62-

Montie R. Deer, Chairman Date‘ |
National Indian Gaming Commission