Mississippi casino project could affect environment, says corps report

Tuesday, June 6, 2000 | 1:28 a.m.

The proposed $2.5 billion casino project at the Broadwater Marina would require 10,000 new homes with about 7,436 septic tanks for the 13,000 employees needed for the project.

The corps' report also questions the amount of air and water pollution the project might create.

Developers want to increase the size of the Broadwater Marina to 66 acres to create space for six dockside casinos, eight hotels, a parking lot, an entertainment complex and a 400-slip marina. The project would be akin to building Biloxi's casino row in the Sound.

Environmentalists have argued the project is financially unrealistic and would damage the Coast's environment and quality of life.

"It is a very dramatic intrusion into the Sound," said attorney Reilly Morse, who represents environmental groups that fear the project would cause overdevelopment of the Coast. "The President projects far greater demand than the savviest Wall Street analyst."

F. Cliff Kirkland, a consultant on the project, said the development will double the present marina, which occupies 30 acres in the Sound.

By clustering the casinos, designers felt the environmental impacts could be minimized, said Kirkland.

"The majority of the transportation needs would be met within the facility," said Kirkland. "They wouldn't be going up and down the beach."

Kirkland said plans for the mega-resort are in development.

"The market's going to dictate when and where additional development will be," he said.

The corps' draft examines scenarios for several smaller developments. Kirkland, however, said developers have not considered scaling down the plan.

The corps began its environmental study in March 1999. The final report will be used decide whether the corps should issue a permit for The President's project.

Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway has opposed the project because he feels it would change Biloxi too much. Secretary of State Eric Clark said he will not issue a tidelands lease for the project unless it has wide support among Biloxi residents.

The corps estimates the project will increase the Coast's labor force, population and employment by 20 percent, with an economic impact of $1.6 billion.

The project would produce an estimated $205 million in state tidelands lease funds that could provide for recreation and another $205 million in tax revenue for Harrison County and Biloxi. It would create 282 marina slips at the Broadwater Marina.

The water bottoms filled by the project are not delicate marshes. But traffic congestion, air pollution and pollution from stormwater runoff would increase, while Harrison County and Biloxi would have to hire nearly 100 more police officers, according to the report.