Schumer, Gillibrand, Hanna Call On Army Corps To Quickly Approve Mohawk Valley Edge's Appeal - Development Group Needs Removal Of Roadblock To Potential Chip Fab Site

Press Release

Army Corps's Permit Currently Includes A Provision That is Impeding a Multi-Billion Dollar Computer Chip Manufacturing Plant That Could Employ Thousands

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with U.S. Representative Richard Hanna, called on the Army Corps of Engineers to swiftly consider and approve Mohawk Valley EDGE's appeal to have Special Condition No. 1 removed from their site development permit. The appeal, filed this week, asks USACE to issue a new permit without the burdensome provision that is preventing site preparation. USACE has previously issued a permit to the Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises (EDGE) that is currently preparing the property, but the permit included Special Condition No. 1, which stipulates that wetlands cannot be disturbed until the facility has a confirmed tenant. The inability to move forward with site preparation and construction plans has made it more difficult to attract a chip manufacturing company. Schumer, Gillibrand and Hanna believe that USACE should quickly approve Marcy's appeal and issue a permit that allows Mohawk EDGE to move forward with site preparations and construction, so that the facility can in turn attract a world-class, job-creating high-technology tenant.

"The Marcy Nanocenter would be a huge boon for the Mohawk Valley and we need to push it forward, not hold it back," said Schumer. "I strongly urge the Army Corps to accept the appeal to have this handcuffing provision removed from the permit so that development of the site can move full steam ahead. We need to eliminate the unnecessary roadblocks that are standing in the way of progress and swiftly develop this site that could potentially result in thousands of new jobs for the region."

"We can't afford to let red tape and bureaucracy stand in the way of the potential for a powerful economic engine for the Mohawk Valley," Senator Gillibrand said. "The Army Corps needs to quickly offer a final review of EDGE's appeal to lift this restriction so we can move forward on building up our high-tech economy, and creating the jobs of the future right here."

"I believe EDGE has a strong case for its appeal and urge the Army Corps of Engineers to review the case and expeditiously render its judgment," Hanna said. "If EDGE succeeds in attracting a Nanocenter to the Mohawk Valley it would mean unprecedented economic growth for Central New York and I urge the Corps to grant the appeal."

Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises (EDGE) has been preparing a property in Marcy, NY to market as a potential site for location of a $2-4 billion computer chip manufacturing facility which could host several thousand new jobs. A similar project is already underway in Saratoga County at the GlobalFoundries' semiconductor chip fab plant in Luther Forest Technology Park, Malta NY. It is the largest construction project in the nation. High-tech chip companies are already preparing for the next generation of manufacturing, which will follow fast on the heels of the GlobalFoundaries effort. According to EDGE, several international computer chip companies have expressed an interest in this location.

EDGE has been working with USACE Buffalo District to obtain a permit for site preparations to attract a semiconductor manufacturer. Throughout the process, EDGE has sought a permit that would allow them to market the site to a semiconductor manufacturer. USACE has been willing to issue a permit, but because an end user for the site has not yet been identified, they have included a provision called "special condition No. 1" in the permit. Special condition No. 1 would prohibit EDGE from disturbing existing wetlands on the site until a semiconductor manufacturer has committed to the project site for the stated project purpose in the permit. EDGE believes that special condition No. 1 limits the marketability of the site, as potential tenants are unwilling to commit to the facility while uncertainty surrounds the permitting process.

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