A national advocacy organization, along with local residents from Central New York, has filed a last-minute lawsuit aimed at halting the development of semiconductor factories by Micron Technology in Clay, New York. The action comes on the same day state and federal officials joined Micron leaders for a long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony at the proposed site.
The lawsuit, initiated by Jobs to Move America, a national nonprofit, and an informal group known as Neighbors for a Better Micron, argues that the environmental review process for the substantial project was inadequate. The legal filing was submitted to the state Supreme Court in Albany and alleges that the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA) did not sufficiently consider the environmental consequences before granting approval in November.
Micron has ambitious plans to establish four chip manufacturing facilities by 2041, with an estimated investment of $100 billion. These plants are projected to generate 9,000 direct jobs and an additional 40,000 jobs in related sectors. However, the advocacy group and local residents express concerns regarding the environmental implications, specifically noting the company’s anticipated emissions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), greenhouse gases, and the destruction of approximately 200 acres of wetlands at the site.
Notably, the lawsuit claims that Micron has failed to make enforceable commitments to prioritize hiring local workers and ensure favorable working conditions. Jobs to Move America has been actively collaborating with local labor advocates to negotiate such commitments.
Despite acknowledging the potential irreversible environmental impacts associated with the project, OCIDA voted unanimously to approve the project after reviewing the environmental impact statement. The agency stated that Micron’s plan is designed to “avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable.”
In its legal complaint, the plaintiffs criticized the environmental review process as “unnecessarily rushed,” reflecting similar sentiments from other critics. OCIDA received comments on the environmental assessment for only 45 days, which is the minimum required.
The lawsuit calls for the court to invalidate OCIDA’s acceptance of the environmental impact statement and reopen the review process. If successful, this would also nullify the town of Clay’s approval of a building permit and any environmental permits granted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
In addition to OCIDA, the lawsuit names Micron, the DEC, the Clay planning board, and Clay planning Commissioner Brian Bender as defendants. Bonita Siegel, the president of Neighbors for a Better Micron, stated, “Micron must be a good neighbor to those of us who have lived here for years,” emphasizing concerns about the protection of local residents.
This legal challenge was filed shortly after a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and County Executive Ryan McMahon.
Site preparation for the 1,400-acre Micron facility is set to begin imminently. The initial contractor, Gilbane Co., is slated to clear 445 acres of forest, a task that must proceed swiftly since tree-cutting is restricted from March 31 to November 1 to protect two endangered bat species during their breeding season.
The construction phase will require approximately 2 million yards of fill, transported primarily by truck, with an estimated 500 trucks expected to continuously enter and exit the site on narrow roads. Micron anticipates that between 2,000 and 4,000 construction workers will be employed at the site through 2030.
Micron’s initiative has undergone an extensive two-year environmental review process, resulting in a 20,000-page report finalized in November. The company has since secured necessary construction approvals from federal, state, and local authorities. The groundbreaking marks a significant milestone more than three years after Micron selected Central New York for what it describes as its most significant expansion in the United States to date, aimed at diversifying its production away from Asia.
