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County criticizes Cowlitz casino plan

"Clark County commissioners reached that conclusion during the county's review of the final environmental impact statement released May 30.

"Commissioners also noted the study, prepared by Analytical Environmental Services of Sacramento, Calif., under the direction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, ignores most of the county's previous concerns or comments.

"The study evaluates five different alternatives, along with a no-build option. The preferred plan is to build a $510 million casino complex on a 152-acre site west of La Center.

"Commissioners, in comments mailed to the Bureau of Indian Affairs Monday, said alternatives that include gambling do not promote tribal self-governance because the Cowlitz would contract with a partnership involving the Mohegan Tribe to build and manage the complex for seven years.

"That contractual arrangement would take money away from the tribe and make the Cowlitz reliant on an outside organization for management of the tribe's primary asset, the county said.

"...Commissioners requested a new alternative, one that provides a mix of uses, such as retail, office and light-development with a casino.

"How much weight the federal government will give the county's comments isn't known..."

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