[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15851-15852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04709]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Micron Semiconductor Manufacturing Facility Project, Town of Clay, 
Onondaga County, New York

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District, 
has received an application for a Department of the Army (DA) permit 
(USACE number LRB-2000-02198) from Micron New York Semiconductor 
Manufacturing LLC (Micron), a wholly owned subsidiary of Micron 
Technology, Inc., to construct a semiconductor manufacturing facility 
for leading-edge manufacturing of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) 
chips. The USACE, as the lead federal agency under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has determined the proposed project 
may significantly affect the quality of the human environment and will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS). The USACE action will 
be to issue, issue with modifications, or deny a DA permit for the 
proposed project. The EIS will assess the potential social, economic, 
and environmental impacts of the proposed project.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the proposed EIS scope should be 
submitted to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, Attn: Ms. 
Margaret Crawford, 7413 County House Road, New York 13021. Individuals 
who would like to provide comments electronically should submit 
comments by email to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this project or 
to be included on the mailing list for future updates and meeting 
announcements, contact Ms. Margaret Crawford at the USACE by telephone 
at (716) 879-6331, by email at [email protected], or by mail at the mailing 
address provided above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USACE intends to prepare an EIS for the 
proposed semiconductor manufacturing facility project. The proposed 
project requires authorization from the USACE under Section 404 of the 
Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) for the discharge of

[[Page 15852]]

dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.
    1. Proposed Action. Micron New York Semiconductor Manufacturing LLC 
(Micron), a wholly owned subsidiary of Micron Technology, Inc., is 
proposing to construct a semiconductor manufacturing facility for 
leading-edge manufacturing of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) 
chips. Micron is proposing to construct the semiconductor manufacturing 
facility over a continuous 20-year period (the ``Proposed Project''). 
The Proposed Project consists of (1) construction of the Micron Campus, 
which will include four individual memory fabrication units (fabs), 
ancillary support facilities, driveways, and parking; (2) construction 
of a childcare and health care center located at 9100 Caughdenoy Road, 
Brewerton, NY; (3) construction of a connection to the National Grid 
substation, adjacent to the Micron Campus, and (4) a rail spur on the 
west side of Caughdenoy Road adjacent to the proposed facility. Micron 
intends to start construction of the Micron Campus in 2025, with two 
fabs (Fabs 1 and 2) becoming operational by 2029. Two more fabs (Fabs 3 
and 4) would be operational by 2041. Separately, Onondaga County plans 
to improve the water supply and wastewater infrastructure to support 
operations of the manufacturing plant. The National Grid utility 
company plans to upgrade the energy infrastructure to support the 
Proposed Project. The Proposed Project is anticipated to involve 
placement of fill into a total of approximately 226 acres of federally 
regulated wetlands on the proposed Micron Campus, 18 acres on the Rail 
Spur property west of the proposed campus, and 7,523 linear feet of 
federally regulated streams and ditches. The applicant proposes to 
develop a compensatory wetland mitigation plan to offset permanent 
losses of waters of the United States from the Proposed Project.
    2. Location. Micron is proposing to acquire the approximately 1400-
acre White Pine Commerce Park site, located at 5171 Route 31, in the 
Town of Clay, Onondaga County, New York 13041, from the Onondaga County 
Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA) at Latitude and Longitude: 
43.190792, -76.157056.
    3. Alternatives. The EIS will address an array of alternatives. 
Alternatives may include, but are not limited to, no action, 
alternative sites, and alternative facility designs. Mitigation 
measures could include, but are not limited to, avoidance and 
minimization, enhancement, restoration, or establishment of wetlands 
and other waters.
    4. Scoping Process. The scoping period will continue for 30 days 
from the date of this Notice of Intent. During the scoping period, the 
USACE invites federal, state, and local agencies, Tribal Nations, other 
interested parties, and the general public to participate in the 
scoping process. The purpose of the scoping process is to provide 
information to the public, serve as a mechanism to solicit agency and 
public input on alternatives, identify significant issues to be 
analyzed in the EIS, and ensure full and open participation in scoping 
for the draft EIS. USACE anticipates that potential impacts to land 
use; socioeconomic conditions; environmental justice communities; 
historic and cultural resources; visual impacts; geology, soils, and 
topography; water resources; biological resources; solid waste; 
hazardous materials; health and safety; transportation; air quality; 
greenhouse gas emissions and climate change; noise; and utilities and 
infrastructure will be analyzed in the EIS. Scoping comments may be 
submitted by conventional mail or email. All comments must include the 
USACE number LRB-2000-02198. In order to be accepted, email comments 
must originate from the author's email account. All comments received 
will become part of the administrative record and are subject to public 
release under the Freedom of Information Act, including any personally 
identifiable information such as names, phone numbers, and addresses.
    USACE is serving as the lead federal agency pursuant to 40 CFR 
1501.7. The Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to participate as 
Cooperating Agencies pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.8. USACE is responsible 
for a decision under the CWA Section 404 permitting process and will 
rely on the EIS in support of that decision. NIST received an 
application for federal financial assistance under the Creating Helpful 
Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America (CHIPS) Act for the 
Proposed Project. If NIST decides to provide financial assistance, the 
agency must conduct an environmental review under NEPA. Additionally, 
NIST has subject matter experts in the production of semiconductors who 
can provide technical assistance in the preparation of the EIS. FHWA 
agreed to participate due to its expertise on traffic analysis. EPA 
will conduct the review required by Section 309 of the Clean Air Act 
(CAA) and will also support the evaluation of, among other things, air 
quality impacts; impacts to water resources; and environmental justice 
concerns. Although USFWS is not a cooperating agency, it will 
participate in development of the EIS; prepare a Biological Opinion 
under ESA Section 7; and provide expertise when considering impacts to 
wetlands, floodplains, wildlife, and habitat. USACE is inviting the 
Tribal Nations to consult related to the Proposed Project.
    Other environmental review and consultation requirements include 
consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act, consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and 
consultation under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. The Proposed 
Project is anticipated to require a Clean Air Act Title V air permit, 
Certification of Water Quality under Section 401 of the CWA, and a 
State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit under 
Section 402 of the CWA. Further, a Notice of Proposed Construction or 
Alteration is expected to be filed with the Federal Aviation 
Administration.
    5. Scoping Meetings. A public scoping meeting will be held on 
Tuesday March 19, 2024, 7 p.m. Eastern Time at the Town of Clay--Town 
Hall Board Room; 4401 Route 31; Clay, NY 13041. Agencies, 
organizations, and members of the general public are invited to present 
comments or suggestions with regard to the range of actions, 
alternatives, and potential impacts to be considered in the EIS.
    6. Availability of the Draft EIS. USACE will use input provided by 
government agencies, private organizations, and the public in the 
preparation of the Draft EIS. The USACE will work with the Cooperating 
Agencies to develop a schedule for preparation of the Draft EIS. That 
schedule will be published when it is available. The Draft EIS will be 
filed with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will be 
available for public comment 45 days from the date the EPA publishes 
its Federal Register notice.

    Approved by:
Joseph M. Savage,
Regional Programs Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-04709 Filed 3-1-24; 4:15 pm]
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