A coalition of tribal operators failed to secure a temporary restraining order against the US Interior Department (DOI) that would have blocked the final approval of the Coquille Indian Tribe's proposed casino in Medford, Oregon.

The DOI recently approved a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the project, moving it one step closer to placing the casino land into federal trust. The Coquille Tribe claims ancestral ties to Medford, despite being located 168 miles away in Coos Bay—a claim disputed by opposing tribes.

The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Karuk Tribe, and Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation filed a lawsuit on December 23 in Washington DC federal court. They argued that the DOI exceeded its constitutional authority by relying on "invalid" federal regulations from the Council on Environmental Quality. The lawsuit also claimed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland failed to properly consult opposing tribes about local impacts.

US District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta denied the motion, ruling that the FEIS isn't a final agency action and remains reviewable, leaving plaintiffs without cause for legal action. The tribes must now wait for the DOI's final record of decision (ROD), which could come as early as Monday.

The project faces additional opposition from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and US Congresspeople from both Oregon and California. Judy Farm, CEO of the Coquille Tribe's economic development arm, dismissed the lawsuit as competition-driven, noting opposing tribes had "12 years to comment" during the permitting process.

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