Environmental groups may sue over monorail

Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999 | 11 a.m.

The Nevada Environmental Coalition served notice that it will sue Clark County, federal agencies, the MGM Grand-Bally's and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority over the proposed monorail that would link the Strip to the Convention Center.

The lawsuit says the plan does not seek to reduce air pollution in the Las Vegas Valley and seeks to halt construction of the $650 million monorail and the $150 million proposed South Hall expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center, coalition Director Robert Hall said Wednesday.

Construction of the monorail and expanding the convention center is expected to increase dust and add particles from diesel trucks, the lawsuit says. The monorail itself is estimated to use electricity that, when generated, would release two-thirds more pollution than people in automobiles using the same amount of energy, Hall said.

The lawsuit's goal would not be to stop the projects but to clear the air of pollution such as carbon monoxide and dust, Hall said.

Clark County risks the loss of federal highway funding for failing to meet Clean Air Act limits. The county has moved from a "moderate" polluter to an area labeled "serious" by the federal government, Hall said, and there has been no legal plan filed with the Environmental Protection Agency for the past six years.

The notice was sent Nov. 10, kicking off a 60-day period before a suit is filed, Washington attorney John Martin said.

Notices were sent to Clark County, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, MGM Grand-Bally's LLC and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.