Feds Scrap Catskills Casino Plans

Government Action Removes Threat to Catskills Region

ALBANY (January 4, 2008) – The people of the Catskills and New York State won a major victory today when U.S. Interior Department Secretary Dirk Kempthorne rejected the proposed casinos in Monticello and by the Neversink River. The federal government’s action closes the door on development projects that would have drastically overburdened the Catskills region with severe traffic congestion, pollution, and sprawl.

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Below is a statement from Richard Schrader, New York legislative director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

“The federal government’s decision today protects thousands of New Yorkers from misguided projects that would have resulted in irreparable harm to the Catskills region. These casino complexes would have led to clogged roads, more pollution, and degraded the quality of life that Catskill residents have come to expect and enjoy.

“The scrapping of these proposals opens up a new opportunity for more sensible development in the Catskills – development that everyone can support. We look forward to working with local and state officials in the region to advance sustainable development and smart growth that protects the outstanding ecological features of the Catskills.”

Source: Natural Resources Defense Council