City Manager Writes Bureau of Indian Affairs Regarding Casino

The city of Vancouver released its assessment only hours before Friday's deadline, saying the draft environmental impact statement fails to address any transportation issues in the Vancouver area, even though 82 percent of the traffic will come from the south.

The final comments have been submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, leaving the federal agency and its consultant to shift through reams of paper on the proposed Cowlitz casino near La Center.

"The traffic on the two bridges crossing the Columbia will make the gridlock already present at times worse," City Manager Pat McDonnell wrote in a three-page letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "There is no consideration of any traffic impact on street intersections within the city of Vancouver."

Vancouver hired The Clark Group to review the casino document. The Washington, D.C., company provides a variety of services, including planning, training, and lobbying.

A massive draft environmental impact statement on the proposed Cowlitz casino was released in mid-April. On the final day to submit comments, Vancouver criticized the study for failing to adequately evaluate transportation and compulsive gambling issues.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs will work with its consultant to review the comments and prepare a final environmental impact statement.