Micron’s New Plant Sparks County Water Talk

On Tuesday, lawmakers in Onondaga County will gather for a public session about how Micron Technology’s new chip factory could affect local water and air. The meeting starts at 5:30 p. m. in the Central Library’s community room on Salina Street. The topic, “Water, Wastewater and Our Environment in Onondaga County, ” is set to focus mainly on Micron’s possible environmental effects. The committee chair, a representative from Skaneateles, said he wants to record residents’ worries as the project moves forward. He added that the hearing is only for collecting information, not for approving or reviewing the plant’s environmental plan.

People have already voiced concerns in other forums, especially about “forever chemicals” that might enter the air and Oneida River. The county intends to build a large wastewater treatment plant at Oak Orchard, which could cost over $2 billion. County officials say Micron will cover the entire expense, and a development board recently began talks with Kiewit Infrastructure to construct it. The hearing follows a series of sessions held by various committees this year, when Democrats gained their first majority in the county legislature in five decades. Residents and lawmakers alike hope to better understand how Micron’s presence will shape the county’s future.

Actions