CLAY, N.Y. — The release of the environmental impact report for the Micron fab plants in Clay has been postponed to June 25, leaving local neighbors both eager and skeptical about the project’s future. The report, initially expected this week, is crucial for the anticipated groundbreaking in late November or early December.

Neighbors are expressing mixed feelings about the delay. AJ Barnett, a Liverpool neighbor, said, “It’s an exciting situation. Everybody’s been waiting for it, anticipating it should be great for our economy and jobs and everything else that we need in this area.”

However, Tom Pilger from Onondaga County remains cautious. “It’s been delayed before. There’s a good possibility once the report comes out there will be a lot more questions and there’s a good possibility it will be delayed even further,” he said.

Franny Sisto, a teacher at the Liverpool School District, emphasized the importance of the report for her business students and the community. “I am actually looking forward to seeing what this report is going to come out because that is going to play, I would imagine, a giant role in this going forward,” she said.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon explained that the delay was to ensure a thorough and complete assessment of the environmental impact. Residents agree that balancing economic growth with environmental preservation is essential.

Barnett added, “No matter what the cost, we don’t want to lose our environment because without our environment, we don’t have anything, so we got to maintain the environment, the quality of the environment.”

Pilger also noted the potential environmental concerns, stating, “Well, the environment report, there’s a lot of wetlands around that area. There were a lot of homes taken. Trees will be destroyed. So I think the environmental impact is going to be big on that area. We definitely want the development to happen. Onondaga County needs more businesses to come.”

A public hearing for the environmental report is tentatively set for July 24, with the public comment period beginning on June 25 and lasting 45 days.