Text of Senator Charles Schumer's Letter to Gale Norton, Secretary United States Department of Interior

Dear Secretary Norton:

I am writing to urge you not to allow the recent resignation of Neal McCaleb, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, to hinder the casino application process. I respectfully request you to instruct the Acting Assistant Secretary, Aurene Martin, to further expedite the casino applications for two New York tribes, the St. Regis Mohawk tribe and the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe. The Indian casinos will be able to provide an economic shot in the arm to a community that desperately needs it.

The St. Regis Mohawk tribe submitted its application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) on June 11, 2001. The tribe plans to partner with Park Place Entertainment to develop a casino at Kutsher's Country Club in Sullivan County, New York. Similarly, the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe submitted its application to BIA on February 11, 2002 to develop a casino in partnership with Trading Cove Associates, also in Sullivan County, New York.

I have had several conversations with Assistant Secretary McCaleb in which he assured me that the tribes' applications were nearing approval. Recently, BIA published both tribes'' revised environmental assessments in the federal register for public comment. I also understand that BIA is currently working on the two-part determination portion of the applications.

Sullivan County is in desperate need of an economic boost. The majority of the community has already pledged their support for the construction of Indian casinos and they have waited long enough. Thank you for your attention on this important matter. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senate

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