WASHINGTON, D.C.  - The National Indian Gaming Commission sent a
harshly written "Warning Letter" to Phillip Del Rosa, chairman of the
Alturas Rancheria, telling the tribe to "permanently cease
construction of the casino and discontinue plans for future gaming
activity on the Benter Allotment" in Yreka.

The letter was also sent to the attorney for NORAM, the financial
backer for the tribe, as well as United States Attorney McGregor
Scott and State of California Attorney General Bill Lockyer.
The day the letter was written, March 17, 2006, the tribe's
spokesperson Dale Andreasen told the “Pioneer Press” that the
previously published letter from the Office of the Governor was
rather insignificant, as the gaming issues are federal in nature, not
state issues.

The federal letter provides "advance warning to the Alturas Tribe
that if it opens a gaming operation on the Benter Allotment, the NIGC
staff is likely to recommend that the Chairman of the NIGC issue a
Notice of Violation against the Alturas Tribe as well as civil fines
and a closure order for the Benter Allotment casino."