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The lawsuit seeks to address concerns related to the largest private investment in New York State history
Syracuse, NY – January 16, 2026 Neighbors for a Better Micron, an association of local residents, and the advocacy organization, Jobs to Move America (JMA), have filed a lawsuit in New York State Court to address what residents and organizations say are serious, unresolved concerns about the potential environmental, health and community impacts of the company’s planned semiconductor manufacturing facility outside of Syracuse and ensure that there are robust economic benefits for the local community.
Last summer, as part of Micron’s legally-required environmental review process, residents, community leaders and organizations from Central New York and around the country submitted over 1200 comments to the U.S. CHIPS Program Office and the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA). These comments – including a lengthy comment from JMA that cited analysis of experts in a range of fields – raised a wide range of potential harms associated with the project, including impacts to public health, housing, the environment, and regional transportation systems.
The lawsuit argues that these impacts were not properly addressed and mitigated in the environmental review process. Among the impacts: 1) Potential pollution of local air, water, and soil due to the intensive use and disposal of toxic forever chemicals; 2) Harms resulting from the destruction of approximately 200 acres of wetlands, including increased flood risk to surrounding properties; 3) The project’s enormous carbon footprint from on-site emissions and energy demand, and how that complies with greenhouse gas reduction goals enshrined in state law.
Micron’s environmental review acknowledges many of these risks but concludes they are acceptable tradeoffs for the facility’s projected economic benefits. Plaintiffs in the case counter that these benefits are uncertain, considering that not enough is publicly known about the quality and compensation of the permanent jobs, especially for roles available to those without advanced degrees. Micron also has yet to provide a concrete, enforceable plan related to hiring permanent workers from disadvantaged communities. Nor has the company provided detailed plans or enforceable commitments to address potentially significant housing and transportation impacts on the region.
“This conclusion is unacceptable given that Micron is expected to receive an estimated $20 billion in combined federal, state and local subsidies. Public agencies overseeing the approval process should require the company to pursue stronger mitigation measures and less harmful alternatives,” said Khadeejah Ahmad, a lifelong resident of Central New York and organizer with JMA.
Under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), agencies must evaluate environmental impacts early in the planning process for projects that they undertake, fund or approve, and must certify that adverse impacts are avoided or minimized as much as possible. Micron’s project is subject to SEQRA review.
If agencies fail to comply with these requirements, individuals and organizations that will be directly harmed by a project have the right to seek judicial review. Impacted community members believe the lead reviewing agencies failed to adequately consider and mitigate the project’s environmental harms.
“Micron must be a good neighbor to those of us who have lived here for years. The agencies did not adequately make sure those of us who live near the Micron site will be protected,” said Bonita H. Siegel, President of Neighbors for a Better Micron. “The goal of the lawsuit is to make sure Micron moves forward in a way that keeps us and our environment safe. We want Micron to be a good neighbor for years to come.”
See the full petition here.