Top Lawyer Asks for Environmental Review of Twin Rivers Tiverton

TIVERTON, RI — Could the proposed Tiveron casino compromise drinking water in Town? That's a question that should be decided by a peer review of the Twin Rivers' environmental application, says a lawyer for a group of concerned residents.

Save Tiverton, a group of local residents and property owners concerned about the land use impacts of the proposed Twin River casino, sent a letter to the casino operator on Dec. 8, seeking a peer review of their environmental application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM).

So far, there's been no reply.

The letter, from Karen Augeri Benson, a local environmental attorney representing neighbors and the group, stated that there were serious deficiencies with the initial application according to RIDEM correspondence.

Specifically, RIDEM indicated that the application did not comply with the Freshwater Wetlands Act because it appeared to modify the natural characteristics of the wetlands and alter their natural capabilities. RIDEM also stated that the project represented a “significant alteration” to the freshwater wetlands and, as a result, may require the review of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “wetlands are important features in the landscape that provide numerous beneficial services for people and for fish and wildlife. Some of these services, or functions, include protecting and improving water quality, providing fish and wildlife habitats, storing floodwaters and maintaining surface water flow during dry periods. These valuable functions are the result of theunique natural characteristics of wetlands.”

As a result, many environmental organizations are dedicated to protecting these sensitive environmental habitats. The site on which Twin River proposes to build consists of 30 acres of wetlands. To date, the company has not responded to the group’s request.

“We hope that Twin River would agree to a peer review as this is a standard practice in the industry,” said Benson. “Moreover, this would ensure a transparent review process and would allow the public to become more informed about the project’s true environmental impacts. We are particularly interested in protecting the Stafford Pond watershed and Sucker Brook. Many Tiverton residents depend on Stafford Pond as a
source of drinking water.”