ENGINEERING AND LAND USE REPORT SHOWS HOOD RIVER CASINO LOCATION NOT FEASIBLE

A 2006 study reveals possible Hood River casino site to be more mirage than reality and cannot be used to justify Cascade Locks casino resort

Portland -- On the day of the final public meeting in Hood River of the proposed off-reservation Gorge casino, a coalition of tribal, environmental, small business and pro-family organizations re-released 2006 engineering and land use study that concludes the proposed location of a threatened casino in Hood River is not possible.  The coalition supports the on-reservation casino alternative.

The report states, "...a Hood River site is not a permittable, practicable or potentially legal site for the Warm Springs Tribe's proposed casino." An executive summary is available by visiting the Issues section of www.nogorgecasino.com.

"We do not believe there is a feasible or practical scenario for locating a casino at the proposed Hood River site," said Grant Bailey, a Senior Consultant with Golder Associates who prepared the 2006 report.

"The threat of a casino near Hood River is an empty threat and cannot be used to justify a casino resort in Cascade Locks. This report proves that a Hood River casino is impossible from an environmental, engineering, political and legal standpoint," said Coalition member Michael Lang, with Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

The report, paid for by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, was conducted by Golder Associates, a global environmental and engineering services firm, and Otak, Inc., a Portland planning, design, and engineering firm. The analysis focused on engineering feasibility, land use, site development costs, agency approvals and other related issues.