A recent press release issued by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin misrepresents the status of its proposed off-reservation casino in Kenosha—misstatements that are already generating inaccurate headlines.
The Tribe’s release claims that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) review ensured “that all applicable regulations have been met,” and quotes Tribal Chairman Joey Awonohopay stating that the record demonstrates “no significant impact to the environment.” This framing has led to headlines such as “Federal BIA environmental impact study passes Kenosha casino project,” along with reports asserting that the BIA concluded the project poses no environmental threat.
None of those claims are accurate.
In reality, the BIA issued a public notice releasing a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for a 30-day public comment period running from March 13 through April 12, 2026. Under federal law, a draft EA is intended to invite public scrutiny before any conclusions are reached.
The notice says the EA will be used to determine if the proposed project would result in significant environmental effects.
The BIA did not prepare the document; it was written by a private consulting firm retained by the Tribe. The agency has not made any final determinations, and public comments will inform its next steps.
This situation reflects a broader pattern. Since 2022, the Tribe has made several public commitments that have not been fulfilled, including:
- Promising federal approval within twelve months of filing
- Pledging to share key documents with Kenosha County officials “within weeks” in November 2023
- Projecting Department of the Interior approval by the end of 2024
None of these commitments have been met.
