Last Friday, the Ione Band of Miwok Indians announced the publication of their “Notice of Availability” for their Draft Environmental Impact Study in the Federal Register, a federal government publication. Tribe Chairman Matt Franklin discussed the announcement in an exclusive television interview with TSPN. “This has been a long process for the Tribe,” said Franklin. “Having our Draft EIS published means our quest to place land into trust is closer to becoming a reality.” The Tribe’s plan to build a casino in Plymouth has faced intense local opposition for years. The Ione Band of Miwok Indians has spent over two years performing a review in preparation for this Draft EIS. The Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS in the Federal Register begins an extended 75 day public comment period which the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or BIA, will manage. The BIA has scheduled a public hearing for May 21st at the Amador County Fair Grounds, beginning at 6PM. “We would like to invite all people, including local, state and federal governments to read and comment on our Draft EIS,” said Spokesman Peter Tateishi in a statement. A copy of the Draft EIS is available online at www.ioneeis.com.