Bipartisan, Unanimous Vote of the Nassau County Legislature confirms that the document is complete, addresses all required topics, and is now available for public review
Las Vegas Sands today officially submitted its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to the Nassau County Legislature for its proposed world-class integrated resort at the site of the Nassau Coliseum. The submission follows a vote by the Nassau County Legislature last night which unanimously confirmed that the document is complete, addresses all required topics, and is now available for public review.
The DEIS, a 28,000+ page, 6ft tall document, is the most comprehensive environmental impact statement ever presented on Long Island, reflecting Las Vegas Sands’ steadfast commitment to sustainable development and community investment.
“We are grateful to the Nassau County Legislature for its thorough review of the completeness of our environmental impact statement. This over 28,000-page document further demonstrates Sands’ commitment to comprehensively and holistically mitigate the potential impacts of our transformative project at the site of the Nassau Coliseum. We are equally grateful to the many Long Islanders and local organizations that continue to come to the table and work with us to create opportunity and build a better, more inclusive, more sustainable community for all,” said Michael Levoff, Las Vegas Sands’ Senior Vice President of Strategy and Public Affairs.
Highlights of the DEIS, prepared by leading engineering firm VHB, include more than $150 million in mitigation investments, targeting enhancement of infrastructure and beautification of Uniondale and other local, historically disinvested communities. These investments aim to modernize central Nassau County to support a multi-billion dollar investment by Las Vegas Sands while also unlocking additional economic development opportunities for the county and enhancing the quality of life for residents. Key mitigation measures, funded privately by Sands include:
- Modernizing the Meadowbrook Parkway: Adding additional capacity and reconstructing bridges to ease congestion on this historically overburdened corridor. This critical improvement will not require land takings but will require state approval.
- New Water Well for Uniondale: Enhancing a local water district that has been operating in a deficit for many years to ensure long-term sustainability and reliability of the project while providing a much-needed public benefit.
- Electric Substation Expansion: Upgrading energy infrastructure in the area to meet growing demand and support regional modernization.
- Beautification Projects: Improving public spaces and the aesthetic appeal of the area to benefit both residents and visitors.
“We are proud to present one of the most comprehensive environmental impact statements ever prepared on Long Island. Working with Sands on this project has been a pleasure. Whenever a potential impact was identified, the company consistently demonstrated its commitment to mitigate these issues, ensuring that both the community and the environment were respected and protected,” said Terri Elkowitz, Senior Principal at VHB.
The DEIS document is now available for public review on the Nassau County Legislature website, and comments can be submitted through January 6, 2025. The Legislature’s retained engineering experts will diligently review the document before making recommendations on a Final Environmental Impact Statement which is expected to be adopted sometime next Spring.
The Sands project is committed to a transparent, community-centered process, inviting residents, stakeholders, and local leaders to provide input during the public comment period.
