San Diego tribal deal rejected

SACRAMENTO, California -- As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune: "An unprecedented joint casino venture between two San Diego County Indian tribes appears to be dead after federal officials rejected a gambling agreement needed to build the long-stalled project.

"The compact for the Ewiiaapaayp band would have allowed the six-member tribe to build a large new casino on the Viejas reservation near Alpine. In exchange, Viejas would have shared the profits.

"But federal officials had warned from the outset that the proposal appeared to conflict with federal law, which restricts Indian casinos to lands controlled and governed by the casino-owning tribe.

"...Without warning, Ewiiaapaayp formally submitted its compact to the Department of Interior last week. It was rejected a day later for the reasons federal officials had outlined from the beginning.

"...Given the prevailing federal view, Viejas spokesman Bob Scheid said the tribe would not have recommended seeking a final decision on Ewiiaapaayp's compact at this point..."