Somerville Challenges Environmental Permit For Wynn Casino

The city of Somerville is mounting another challenge to Wynn's planned casino in nearby Everett.

Somerville filed an administrative appeal Thursday with the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The appeal challenges the state's decision to grant the $1.7 billion project a key environmental permit last month.

Mayor Joseph Curtatone, an anti-casino Democrat, said Friday the project will have serious consequences to the health of city residents. An estimated 18,000 people per day are expected to drive to the casino, he said, "choking local roadways and pumping tons of extra exhaust into the air we breathe."

Somerville already has four other legal challenges pending against the project, which holds the lone state gambling license for the Boston area.

Boston recently dropped its legal challenge to the project after Wynn agreed to increase its annual compensation payments to the city.