Inslee gives STEP green light

l: the project respects the sovereignty and economic development of the tribe, protects the vitality of the state's military installations, supports priorities of local governments and communities and guards against "unnecessary expansion of all forms of gaming across Washington state."

Spokane County's board of commissioners has opposed the project, as has the county's main economic development organization, Greater Spokane Incorporated. In a June 8 press release criticizing Inslee's decision, county commissioners questioned how the governor could approve STEP given it would be located beneath "closed traffic patterns pilots fly in training operations" at the base.

The county noted Fairchild brings an estimated $1 billion annually to the state, and is competing to be selected as a main operating base for the Air Force's new generation of air refueling planes. The county also noted Air Force officials told Inslee "any development located near an airfield carries concerns of heightened risk and potential for encroachment issues."

In his letter to Interior, however, Inslee wrote that in seeking additional information on the project, he met with senior Air Force leadership, including U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh and Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Miranda Ballentine. Based on these meetings and other information, Inslee wrote "the record establishes that STEP will not interfere with Fairchild's current operations, or negatively impact future Air Force citing decisions."

County commissioners also questioned Inslee's reasoning that in approving STEP, the door was not opened for some of Washington's 29 Native American tribes to also apply for off-reservation gaming locations. The commissioners noted the Spokane Tribe already has two casinos in operation.

Inslee said the only other off-reservation casino to receive approval was the Kalispel Tribe's Northern Quest Casino and Resort, located in the city of Airway Heights as the Spokane's proposed casino will also be. The fact that approval occurred almost 20 years ago speaks to the infrequency of off-reservation gaming, Inslee added. He noted that in giving their approval, Interior drew attention to aspects of the location of both casinos.

"(STEP) [I]s within the aboriginal area of the Spokane Tribe, and that Airway Heights is not within the aboriginal lands of the Kalispel Tribe," Interior wrote. "We note that it would be deeply ironic to allow the Kalispel Tribe to develop a casino within the Spokane Tribe's aboriginal area, while denying the Spokane Tribe the opportunity to use its own aboriginal lands for the same purpose."

Airway Heights' officials stated in a press release that they, the Spokane Tribe, officials from the Air Force and Fairchild along with other agency representatives having interest in the project held numerous meetings regarding aspects of the development, which would be built on 145 acres within the city.

"Opponents of the project circulated many reasons why the Spokane Tribe should not be given the same right to develop their casino project," Airway Heights City Manager Albert Tripp said in the release. "So far, none of these reasons have been substantiated. The Spokane Tribe has complied with every requirement and provided mitigation for every concern."

"There has been lots of review, and probably rightfully so," Spokane Tribal Council chair Carol Evans said in a June 14 interview.

According to the project's website, STEP will provide over 5,000 construction-related and permanent jobs, and $400 million in economic revenue to the region. The project is scheduled to be built in phases over 10 years, with groundbreaking on the casino projected for later this summer or early fall.

Evans said they have worked through numerous mitigation measures laid out by Fairchild, city, county and state officials as part of the environmental impact statement portion of the project. Issues such as building height, lighting glare and egress locations are constantly being addressed, and changes made if needed.

"We will continue to take input from them as we go along," Evans said.

Evans said they are in the process of completing design documents that will allow them to proceed with project financing, bidding and construction.

"We are excited to move forward," she said, adding the tribe hopes the project will not only be a benefit for Airway Heights and the West Plains, but the Spokane region as a whole.

"We want to be a good neighbor to the community," she said. "We want to be good neighbors and hopefully grow the region."

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.