GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS
BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs): A bureau within the Department of the Interior (DOI), BIA includes a Central Office in Washington, D.C., as well as Regional Offices around the country, such as the Northwest Regional Office in Portland.
The Regional Offices consider applications for taking land into trust and make recommendations to the Office of Indian Gaming Management (OIGM), which is part of the BIA’s Central Office.
The Central Office considers whether the proposed parcel qualifies for an exception to the prohibition against gaming on lands acquired after 1988. In this case, the Cowlitz Tribe has applied for the initial reservation and restored lands exceptions.
CARS (Citizens Against Reservation Shopping): A citizens group formed by Ed Lynch and other community leaders in June 2005 to oppose the proposed casino at the La Center junction site.
DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement): The EIS that is released to the public for comment.
DOI (Department of the Interior): The DOI is the branch of the federal government that includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Among other responsibilities, the Secretary of the Interior has the authority to place land into trust for Indian tribes.
EA (Environmental Assessment): The EA is produced by federal agencies to fulfill requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An EA is used to determine whether an undertaking by a federal agency would significantly affect the environment. According to the NEPA Web site, “If the answer is no, the agency issues a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). … If the EA determines that the environmental consequences of a proposed federal undertaking may be significant, an EIS is prepared.”
EIS (Environmental Impact Statement): The EIS is produced by federal agencies to fulfill requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An EIS is produced if a federal agency anticipates that an undertaking might have significant environmental consequences or might be environmentally controversial. An EIS is required to consider alternatives to the proposed project. It is a more detailed evaluation than an Environmental Assessment (EA). The EIS process invites comments from the public and other federal agencies and must make public its record of decision, addressing how the findings of the EIS were incorporated.
IGRA (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act): The 1988 law that governs Indian gaming.
MOU (Memorandum of Understanding): An agreement between two governing bodies. In this case, between the Cowlitz Tribe and Clark County. The tribe also has established an MOU with the Ridgefield School District.
NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act): The law that oversees the preparation of EISs, among other responsibilities.
NIGC (National Indian Gaming Commission): The NIGC is the federal regulatory agency that oversees Indian gaming. It is sometimes called on to issue opinions on restored lands applications, but final authority rests with DOI.
OIGM (Office of Indian Gaming Management): Part of the BIA’s Central Office, the OIGM is responsible for Indian gaming functions and activities outlined in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and for reviewing recommendations from the BIA Regional Offices for taking land into trust for gaming purposes. OIGM then makes a recommendation to DOI’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.
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