A national advocacy group and Central New York residents filed a last-minute lawsuit aimed at blocking Micron Technology from constructing a chip factory in Clay, claiming that environmental reviews were insufficient. This legal action coincided with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by state and federal officials, marking the start of the project.
The lawsuit, filed in Albany’s state Supreme Court, was initiated by Jobs to Move America and the community group Neighbors for a Better Micron. They contend that the Onondaga County Industrial Development Authority (OCIDA) failed to properly assess the environmental impact before approving the project in November. Micron plans to build four chip manufacturing plants by 2041, investing an estimated $100 billion and generating around 9,000 direct jobs and 40,000 additional jobs.
Key issues in the lawsuit include inadequate consideration of projected emissions, destruction of wetlands, and insufficient commitments to hire local workers. While OCIDA acknowledged the project’s irreversible environmental impacts, it stated that potential adverse effects were minimized as much as possible.
The lawsuit seeks to annul OCIDA’s acceptance of the environmental impact statement and reopen the review process. It names multiple defendants, including Micron and local authorities. Filing occurred shortly after ceremonial construction began, with immediate site preparation tasks requiring significant environmental compliance measures and oversight.
Micron’s extensive environmental review process spanned two years and produced a 20,000-page report. The company aims to spend over $51 billion on two manufacturing plants by 2033, potentially receiving up to $20 billion in taxpayer subsidies.
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