PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Environmental officials say they don’t plan to shut down Maine’s newest casino after a judge nullified its development permit less than two months after opening for business.
In a 10-page decision, Justice Michaela Murphy agreed with the Androscoggin River Alliance that the Department of Environmental Protection wrongly granted the permit for the Oxford Casino after considering just the first phase of the three-phase project.
The DEP said Monday that it will follow the judge’s order and reopen the permit review process, but won’t pursue closing down the casino.
Alliance attorney Stephen Hinchman said without a permit, the casino must close. He said the DEP is violating state law by allowing the casino to operate without a permit.
