The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the US Department of the Interior. The legal action contests the agency’s determination that a parcel in Vallejo, California, does not qualify as restored tribal land under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The ruling effectively blocks the tribe’s proposed $700m casino and hospitality development in Solano County, situated near the intersection of Interstate 80 and Highway 37. The tribe argues that the department’s decision contradicts statutory requirements and a 2019 opinion that previously favored their position.
Procedural Challenges and Regional Opposition
The federal decision was issued shortly after the tribe launched a temporary preview casino at 200 Columbus Parkway. The project faces ongoing objections from the neighboring Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which maintains that the development threatens ancestral lands. The DOI determined that the specific site lacks the historical connection required for land restoration status.
The Scotts Valley Band criticized the agency’s handling of the review, alleging that the department changed the reconsideration process without prior notice. The tribe stated that it was denied a meaningful opportunity to address the procedural changes.
The current court battle represents a major setback for the Scotts Valley Band, which has pursued this development through nearly a decade of administrative and legal proceedings.