The United Auburn Indian Community has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior, seeking to overturn the federal government’s approval of a major casino project near Vallejo, California.
The tribe, which operates Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, argues that the decision violates federal law and undermines long-standing tribal gaming regulations. The core of the legal dispute is a 615,000-square-foot casino development planned by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians.
The United Auburn tribe alleges that the site, located near two major Bay Area freeways, is far removed from the Scotts Valley Band’s ancestral lands in Lake County and does not meet the legal requirements under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) for establishing gaming operations.
“The approval of this casino is a blatant violation of federal law and sets a dangerous precedent for tribes that have followed the established rules for Indian gaming,” said United Auburn Chairman John L. Williams in a statement announcing the lawsuit.
The complaint, filed in Washington, D.C., claims that Interior Department officials rushed to approve the project during the final days of the Biden administration, bypassing procedural safeguards and ignoring objections from neighboring tribes.
Under IGRA, tribes must demonstrate a historic connection to the land where they propose gaming operations if their federal recognition has been restored. The United Auburn tribe, along with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, contends that the Vallejo site falls within traditional Patwin territory and not that of the Pomo people.
Previous efforts by the Scotts Valley Band to build a casino in Richmond and Vallejo were rejected by the Interior Department. In both cases, federal officials determined the tribe had no historical ties to the proposed sites, according to Monday’s court filing.
“The Vallejo Site lies within the ancestral lands of the Patwin people,” the complaint states. “Scotts Valley has instead pursued multiple sites well outside its traditional homeland because of their greater moneymaking potential.”
The lawsuit also claims that Scotts Valley officials failed to consult neighboring tribes, including United Auburn, and that Interior officials excluded those tribes from critical meetings during the approval process. The plaintiffs allege this lack of consultation represents a breach of federal trust and tribal sovereignty obligations.
Yocha Dehe officials, who operate Cache Creek Casino Resort, have also expressed strong opposition to the project. In a January statement, Chairman Anthony Roberts called Interior’s approval a “shameful, illegal decision,” accusing the department of working behind closed doors to expedite the process.
“To see our land and cultural resources taken away for the benefit of wealthy investors is painful beyond words,” Roberts said.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/03/26/99488-thunder-valley-tribe-sues-interior-department-over-approval-of-vallejo-casino-project
