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Colville tribe updates Pasco on fee-to-trust process for proposed casino; residents raise social and safety concerns
Summary
Representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation briefed the council on a fee-to-trust and environmental review for a proposed 160-acre casino parcel and associated economic development, saying the federal draft EIS is in progress and that the project could create about 2,000 jobs; several residents warned of gambling-related harms and public-safety impacts.
Representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation told the Pasco City Council on Monday that their planned economic development — including a potential 160‑acre gaming parcel — remains in federal review, and that the tribe has completed earlier fee‑to‑trust steps and is working through a draft environmental impact statement.
A tribal representative described the project footprint, noted cooperation agreements in principle with Franklin County and the Port of Pasco on law enforcement and infrastructure, and said the compact with the state requires tribe-funded problem-gambling support and community contributions. “We think that based on the preliminary work that this should provide about 2,000 jobs,” the representative said, summarizing the tribe’s economic case and the federal process status.
Speakers from the public expressed concern about possible social harms and traffic impacts. Caitlin Razzo, a Pasco community organizer, said she worried casinos could increase problem gambling and financial hardship in vulnerable families, and asked the council to prioritize long-term investments that strengthen local businesses and housing instead of developments that might deepen instability.
County and local officials also asked about public-safety responses, traffic and infrastructure. Franklin County Commissioner Stephen Baumann thanked council and staff for attention to the issue and cautioned about recidivism and other risks associated with less-restrictive housing and placement of specialized facilities.
Tribal presenters said the fee-to-trust process is multi-step and federal-led: the tribe filed notice of intent in April 2024, scoping hearings followed, and the draft environmental impact statement is being worked on at the federal level. The Colville representative said the tribe has drafted agreements for municipal services, law-enforcement cooperation and Port coordination so there is a pathway for mitigation if federal approvals and compacts move forward.
Council members said they appreciated the update and asked for continued outreach as the federal process proceeds; several members said they wanted further detail on traffic, public-safety planning and how any community benefits would be structured.
Next steps: the tribe and staff will continue intergovernmental coordination; the project remains in federal environmental review and no local approvals were required or taken at this meeting.
