The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs has released the draft environmental assessment for the proposed Hard Rock Casino in Kenosha.
The EA analyzes the potential effects of acquiring land in Kenosha for the Menominee Indian Tribe and its proposed development of the property as a casino-hotel, offering class III gaming pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, consistent with other tribal casinos in the state.
The BIA’s comprehensive review – which took more than a year and covered numerous studies – analyzed the environmental impacts of the project. Both the city of Kenosha and Kenosha County have approved agreements supporting the project.
“This is a long-awaited opportunity, and we are excited to have arrived at the next phase in this process,” Menominee Tribal Chairman Joey Awonohopay said. “This project will deliver significant, local economic impact, create more than 1,000 permanent jobs in the final phase of the project, and support families and businesses across the region. The project’s benefits will directly benefit the members of our tribe, as we address urgent needs in health care, infrastructure and education.”
The EA evaluated a broad range of environmental considerations, including air quality, water resources, traffic, public services and biological resources.
With respect to air quality, the EA concludes that construction and operation of the proposed project would result in insignificant impacts and would comply with applicable federal and state air quality standards, including requirements related to vehicle emissions and operational controls.
The EA also finds that the project has been designed to avoid impacts to jurisdictional wetlands and other protected aquatic resources, with no filling or alteration of wetlands anticipated, and that implementation of best management practices and mitigation measures would ensure continued protection of water resources and floodplain conditions.
In addition to environmental effects, the EA examined socioeconomic and economic considerations associated with the proposed project.
The analysis concludes that the Kenosha project would generate substantial economic benefits, including significant employment during construction and permanent jobs during operations, and that these effects would be beneficial to Kenosha County and the surrounding region.
The EA further determined that the proposed development is not expected to result in significant adverse economic impacts and that overall economic effects associated with the project would be positive when considering employment, income generation, and related economic activity.
“We thank the BIA for thoroughly reviewing the plans for the proposed Kenosha project and ensuring that all applicable regulations have been met,” Awonohopay said. “The EA provides the Department of the Interior with the detailed information needed to determine that this project strengthens both the tribe and the broader Kenosha community. We are confident the record demonstrates the benefit without any significant impact to the environment.”
The Kenosha casino approval process has moved to the next phase with the BIA officially publishing the EA for public comment, offering an opportunity for input and transparency.
“This approval process is decades in the making, and the people of Kenosha have consistently supported the project,” Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman said. “I’ve followed and supported the project for years. I encourage citizens to continue to make their voices heard throughout the comment period.”
Upon completion of the proposed Kenosha project, the facility will provide hundreds of millions of dollars to the state of Wisconsin and the city and county of Kenosha and will provide the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin revenue to help address the significant unmet needs and persistent economic hardship affecting the tribe and its more than 9,000 members.
