Tortoises push casino grand opening back


By KURT SCHAUPPNER / The Desert Trail Wednesday, July 16, 2008 2:27 PM PDT



TWENTYNINE PALMS — Discovery of tortoises on the 160-acre site of the NŸwŸ Casino and RV Resort has likely pushed back the opening of that casino 30 to 60 days.

That is the word from Rod Wilson, spokesman for the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, which has proposed building the casino and RV park on reservation land south and east of the intersection of Adobe Road and Baseline Road.

Discovery of the endangered species, Wilson said, required the tribe to add to its already extensive environmental as-sessment for the project.

He said Tuesday, July 15 that sometime next week the tribe is expected to have a finalized version of a wildlife habitat conservation plan, not only for desert tortoises but for any other endangered animals and plants found at the site.

Protocols for tortoises, he said, will include the placement of fencing to protect the animals and establishment of a location on the 160-acre site for tortoises that have to be relocated because of construction.

The protocol, he said, is based on one created by Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree for its construction plans.

  
“That is really kind of the model for the tribe,” he said. “That will be the final component of the environmental assessment, then the environmental assessment can be approved.”

After that happens, Wilson said, the tribe will send biologists to the site to identify where tortoise fencing will be required.

“We’re getting closer,” he said. “We will be able to break ground. Certainly the tribe is going to be well prepared for whatever happens, make sure it is all handled properly.”

He said the added planning has likely moved the casino’s planned opening date, which had been set for the beginning of April of next year, back 30 to 60 days.

 
 
“As soon as we know when the groundbreaking will be we will have a firm opening date,” he said. “We are getting close.”