SPRINGFIELD - MGM Resorts International announced that is has completed required paperwork to begin an environmental review for its proposed downtown casino. Under state law, environmental reviews are required for developments of certain scopes, sizes and locations. The proposed $800 million MGM Springfield in the city's South End falls within that. The company notes in a statement that it...
Renderings of the competing proposals for a possible Springfield casino: MGM Springfield, proposed by MGM Resorts International, left, and Hollywood Springfield, proposed by Penn National Gaming.
SPRINGFIELD - MGM Resorts International announced that is has completed required paperwork to begin an environmental review for its proposed downtown casino.
Under state law, environmental reviews are required for developments of certain scopes, sizes and locations. The proposed $800 million MGM Springfield in the city's South End falls within that. The company notes in a statement that it is the first applicant in Western Massachusetts to take the step. Penn National Gaming is proposing a casino in the North End of the city.
Developers are required to send copies of the Environmental Notification Form to potentially affected communities. The form details the potential environmental impacts of the projects.
The seven local communities that will receive notice are Agawam, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, West Springfield and Wilbraham.
Mike Mathis, vice president of Global Gaming Development, said company officials hope to meet with local officials soon. A letter sent to officials in those communities made the distinction between the environmental review and the Massachusetts Gaming Law's requirement around "surrounding community agreements."
"Although MGM looks forward to sitting down with surrounding communities to get their perspective and priorities moving forward but we are not yet at that stage of the process," Mathis said in a statement.