The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced it intends to take 254 acres of land into trust for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which plans to build a hotel and casino north and west of Rohnert Park.

The announcement appeared Thursday in the Federal Register. There will now be a 30-day final review process.

The tribe must still complete an environmental review of its proposed 2,000-slot machine casino and hotel west of U.S. Highway 101 and negotiate a gaming compact with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Opponents of the casino were quick to argue that taking the land into trust will not further the tribe's casino plans. The Stop the Casino 101 Coalition said the land has been under state jurisdiction for 150 years and should remain that way.

"The Governor cannot negotiate a compact with the FIGR to allow casino gaming on this land unless the state Legislature takes the extraordinary step of ceding jurisdiction over the parcel to the federal government," the coalition said in a written statement.

"The federal government cannot take any steps to approve casino gaming on this land under Indian Gaming Regulatory Act unless the state Legislature cedes jurisdiction over the parcel to the federal government," the statement said.

Coalition spokesman Chip Worthington said, "If the FIGR and the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) assert the right to have an Indian casino in Sonoma County in violation of state law, such a move would be quickly challenged."

Sen. Barbara Boxer restored the tribe to federal recognition in December 2000 under the Graton Rancheria Restoration Act.