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Fri May 9, 2008

Millions at stake in Lawton casino fight


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Jeff Houser, chairman of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe, stands inside his tribe's newly renovated casino in Lawton. By TONY THORNTON, The Oklahoman
Case pivots on land issue
Central to a lawsuit settlement involving the Comanche Nation, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe and the federal government is a 30-acre tract of land in southwest New Mexico.

As part of the settlement involving its Oklahoma casino, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe secured a promise from the Interior Department to "accept and timely process” its application to convert the New Mexico land into a reservation.

The tribe built a small casino there along Interstate 10, but it closed in February before it officially opened, after New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson ordered a blockade. Richardson said the casino is illegal because it hasn't been approved by federal Indian gaming regulators.

In March, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe complained in a court filing that the Interior Department hasn't abided by the settlement terms.

In a response filed last week, Interior Department officials said they are awaiting more information from the tribe before the request can be processed.

Staff Writer Tony Thornton