On March 21, 2006 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX (USEPA) held a Public Hearing regarding the proposal for the waste disposal system for the Buena Vista Band of Me-Wuk’s Flying Cloud Casino. The hearing was held here locally because of an outcry from local citizens asking that the US EPA’s proposal to issue a new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to the Buena Vista Rancheria, Flying Cloud Casino for the wastewater processing at the proposed casino be held here in the county.
During the previous comment period, the EPA received several requests to hold a public hearing from members of our local community. Pursuant to the rules and regulations governing the permit process the EPA then considered the requests and decided to hold the public hearing here in Ione due to the significant level of public interest in this action. There is currently no word regarding if an additional hearing will be held here locally. The Buena Vista Band is in the process of drafting a new tribal Environmental Impact Report after their original report was deemed inadequate by local and state officials.