UNIONDALE, NY — An environmental group is raising concerns about the proposed hotel/casino for the Nassau Hub.
Steven Rolston with the Long Island Sierra Club said they are calling for an independent environmental review.
An assessment was done through the Las Vegas Sands, which would pay $4 billion to build the resort.
Find out what's happening in Garden Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We were taken aback when they suddenly tried to rush it through and not go further,” Rolston told Patch.
He said the law requires an independent review to examine the project’s impact on the environment.
Find out what's happening in Garden Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A lawsuit by Hofstra University last April “put the brakes” on the Sands’ efforts and allowed other groups to step forward, including “Say No to the Casino” and the Sierra Club.
One of the top issues with such a large-scale proposal is the water system.
“We’re concerned with the aquifers. They’re going to draw a lot of water, which affect the water table in the area,” Rolston said.
Digging deeper, he said the water supply will become polluted from the construction and the operation of the casino.
Plus, as thousands of visitors turn out for the casino, traffic is likely to build, and “the added pollution to the nearby area” is another environmental red flag.
Watch the full Patch Weekly Spotlight interview with Steven Rolston below.
Click Here: custom rapid prototyping service
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.