We love our community &
want to ensure development is being done responsibly.
Below are the areas we are focused on.
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Transparency
One major stakeholder was almost entirely left out of the SK hynix West Lafayette project - the community. That changed after the March 19th APC meeting; however, trust was broken and the lack of communication and transparency has continued.
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Air Pollution
Semiconductor companies emit more greenhouse gases than some countries. Children and seniors are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, which also impacts the environment (soil, water, gardening, and ecosystems).
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Water Pollution
The semiconductor industry uses heavy metals and PFAS (so called “forever chemicals”) in their processes, which are difficult and costly, if not impossible, to remove before the water is discharged to local wastewater treatment facilities.
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Hazardous Chemicals
Chip makers rely heavily on toxic compounds, including PFAS (known as “forever chemicals,”), which remain in the environment, accumulate in the human body, and are associated with cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, asthma, and thyroid disease.
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Waste Disposal
Semiconductor fabs generate both hazardous and nonhazardous solid waste. Solid waste can include various forms of material and can include liquids, semi-solids, and contained gases. Hazardous waste is a subset of solid waste that may pose substantial threats to human health or the environment.
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Water Use
Advanced packaging facilities require significant amounts of water to operate. As an example, SK hynix expects to use roughly 2.8 million gallons of water per day - a 54% increase to West Lafayette’s current average daily water usage.
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Role of the IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has historically operated with minimal oversight or accountability. They are currently under audit as lawmakers question the transparency of the group’s operations.
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Worker Health
Semiconductor operators may be at increased risk for certain types of cancers, including leukemia and other types of blood and lymphatic cancers. Some chemicals used in the semiconductor industry can also cause miscarriages, birth defects, and fetal brain damage.
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Energy Use
In addition to water, advanced packaging facilities also require significant amounts of electricity to operate, subsequently increasing the industry’s overall carbon footprint. To date, SK hynix has not released any details on this facility’s anticipated energy usage.
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Fire Risk
Semiconductor manufacturing uses hundreds of hazardous and highly flammable chemicals and gases. As a result, facilities producing semiconductors for a wide range of applications around the world experience fires with some degree of frequency.
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Infrastructure
Numerous trucks to and from the facility will be required to maintain operations. Even with the upcoming County Road 425 N extension, there is not a direct, easily accessible route for semi truck traffic that avoids residential neighborhoods from Sites A and B to either I-65 or US-231.
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Suppliers
SK hynix plans to work with over 140 suppliers, many of whom will be located on Site A as they need to be in close proximity to the facility. However, questions remain unanswered on the nature, regulatory compliance, and safety of these organizations.