Residents call for a wider casino scope

By DAVID HULSE

	TRR photo by David Hulse Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini, foreground, was among 40 to 50 people attending an October 8 scoping session in preparation for a new environmental impact study on behalf of the proposed Mohawk Mountain Resort and Casino. (Click for larger image)

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County residents called on planners last week to consider a wider area of review when completing a new draft environmental impact study for the proposed Mohawk Mountain Resort and Casino.

Pending approval by the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and completion of a compact agreement with Governor Pataki, the resort and casino would be built at the Kutsher’s Sports Academy on Anawana Lake.

An environmental assessment, a less complicated version of the study, was completed for New York State Environmental Quality Review Act purposes and published last August.

Because BIA has repeatedly been sued upon past approvals of similar projects, the agency has now been demanding more complete environmental studies to support its decisions.

Written for federal requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, the new study formally addresses only two changes in building plans, the addition of on-site wastewater treatment and on-site drinking water supplies. But reopening the review process also reopens the area of review or scope of the study.

Ten people gave comments, most of them seeking an expanded study of highway traffic impacts on Route 17 and local roads, and on the impacts of the project on communities and services beyond the Town of Thompson.

David Ginsberg said it was absurd to think that the lane improvements under consideration on Route 42 and the Anawana Lake Road will absorb up to 30,000 new vehicle trips daily.

Gerry Skoda predicted that every department of county government will be impacted by the casino, as will every school district in the county.

Legislator Jodi Goodman said she wanted the report to address impacts on Liberty schools and town government.

Rev. James Smith warned that the county was buying trouble in the likely increase in gambling addiction and other vices.

But another Liberty resident said residents should not tie themselves in knots over petty issues that would deny them the new economic boost.

“Don’t play into [Donald] Trump’s hand,” he said.