Onondaga County

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Onondaga County Legislature has announced a Joint Committee Meeting on Micron and a Public Hearing on the related industrial sewer district. The meetings will take place in the Legislative Chambers of the Onondaga County Courthouse on Feb. 17. The Joint Committee Meeting is at 10:15 a.m. and is an informational meeting. According to legislative rules, committee meetings do not allow comments from the public. The public hearing at 12:00 p.m. is the public’s opportunity to speak, ask questions and offer public comment. Both meetings will live-stream to the Legislature’s YouTube channel and be available for on-demand viewing.

“The region has a significant invested interest in the Micron project and its success. This is the largest private investment in New York’s history and it’s happening. We now must continue to focus legislative attention on ensuring the plan for development, environmental protections, and community benefit is clear, responsible, on-track, and made known to residents,” said Nicole Watts, Chairwoman of the Onondaga County Legislature.

Micron Technology officially broke ground on its $100 billion, 1,400-acre semiconductor megafab complex in Clay last month. The 20-year project is projected to build four factories, create 50,000 jobs, and anchor Central New York as a semiconductor hub for manufacturing and advanced technology jobs.

Immediately after the joint committee meeting, there will be a public hearing in the Legislative Chambers at 12:00 p.m. to hear comments and questions from the public on the creation of the Oak Orchard Industrial Sewer District which is a required step in managing industrial waste.

“This is an administrative requirement, but it still supports public health and safety. Our water is a significant resource to us in the region. It’s important that we are transparent with residents about next steps and give them an opportunity to ask questions and be engaged,” said Gregg Eriksen, Chair of the Environmental Protection Committee. 

While the Town of Clay already has a wastewater treatment plant, the creation of an industrial sewer district would create a means by which an already approved second facility can treat Micron’s industrial process waste.

Creating an Industrial Sewer District

Industrial sewer districts are a specialized municipal designated area or entity that manage high-volume, highly concentrated waste, preventing harmful pollutants from entering public water systems through specialized permits, monitoring, and infrastructure.

These districts are distinct from regular wastewater districts in that they work under specific state or federal guidelines, such as EPA mandates, to protect water quality, and set up specialized public infrastructure.

The creation of the district is a multi-step process.

1. The County presents a resolution for a public hearing at the Jan. 16 Committee Meeting
2. The resolution for a public hearing is approved at the Feb 3. Legislative Session
3. The Legislature conducts the Feb. 17 Public Hearing
4. The Environmental Protection Committee reviews a resolution to create the district at theFeb. 24 Committee Meeting; if there are any costs related, it will also pass through Ways & Means
5. The resolution to create a district is brought to a vote at the March 3 Legislative Session
6. If passed, the resolution is reviewed and approved by New York State

“As Micron starts construction, we need to ensure that residents are at the center of every decision we make. This joint committee informational meeting and public hearing on the proposed Industrial Sanitation District is an opportunity to hear from residents and ensure that this project improves their quality of life and helps us move towards a more vibrant local economy,” said Elaine Denton, Chair of the Economic & Planning Committee.

Residents who cannot take part in the public hearing in-person can send public comments to the County Legislature by emailing legislature@ongov.net until 12:00 p.m. March 3.