Somerville Mayor On The State's Approval Of Permit For Wynn Everett Casino

The state Department of Environmental Protection said on Friday that it will grant an environmental permit to Wynn Resorts for a planned Everett casino known as Wynn Boston Harbor.

The issuance of the permit means casino developer Steve Wynn can begin construction on the nearly $2 billion resort as early as next month.

The city of Somerville had appealed the decision to the state and wanted a denial of the permit, citing concerns about traffic congestion and pollution in neighborhoods.

The state's issuance of the permit is a denial of Somerville's appeal, but Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone points out the state did impose some new conditions on Wynn, such as mandating Wynn Resorts increase the amount of open space at the casino property.

Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone joined WBUR's All Things Considered to talk about the state's issuance of the environmental permit.