West Lafayette vs. Peoria: Same Industry, Very Different Choices

Petition updatePetition to Stop Heavy Industry Near Our HomesWest Lafayette vs. Peoria: Same Industry, Very Different Choices

Stop Heavy IndustryWest Lafayette, IN, United States

Nov 22, 2025

In Peoria, Arizona, neighbors faced a story that sounds very familiar: a large advanced packaging plant proposed right next to homes. Residents organized, packed public meetings, and pushed back hard.

The result? Amkor Technology agreed to move its facility off the neighborhood-adjacent site in Vistancia farther from homes.

The company still gets to build. The city still gets jobs. But families don’t have to live next to a heavy-industrial packaging plant.

West Lafayette: Same Industry, Very Different Choices

Here in West Lafayette, SK hynix is planning a US$3.87 billion advanced chip packaging plant with up to $458 million in federal subsidies under the CHIPS Act—on land next to existing neighborhoods, schools, parks, and a planned daycare.

Since early 2025, SK hynix and Purdue Research Foundation have watched, in person, as residents protested (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BbPzSNfA4/?mibextid=wwXIfr):

Neighbors spoke for hours at the March APC meeting, where APC voted against the rezoning.
SK hynix staff sat through nearly seven hours of public comment on May 5, when three-quarters of speakers opposed putting heavy industry on Site B.
Over 3,000 residents signed the petition against heavy industry next to homes.
Residents filed lawsuits challenging the rezoning, and SK hynix even tried to block attorney John Burgett’s amicus brief submitted on behalf of neighbors.

Despite all this, SK hynix is now holding tiny, invitation-style “community meetings” of 20 people at a time—and acting “surprised” that residents are still objecting.

Amkor listened and moved farther away from homes.

SK hynix is pretending it doesn’t understand why people are upset.

Why PFAS Makes Location Even More Critical

In our last petition update, we talked about PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and how courts are increasingly siding with communities—from Hoosick Falls, NY, to Chemours in North Carolina—when companies contaminate drinking water and try to downplay the harm.

PFAS are not an abstract, far-away problem. They are a growing concern right here in Indiana:

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has already found PFAS in public water systems across the state, sometimes above proposed federal health limits.
On November 21, 2025, state agencies, Purdue, and other researchers are meeting at the Indiana Government Center for a symposium titled “PFAS Challenges in Indiana Waters,” focused on PFAS in our rivers, lakes, and public water supplies.

While Indiana scientists are warning that PFAS in water is a statewide challenge, West Lafayette is being asked to host a massive advanced packaging plant that:

could use large volumes of specialty chemicals (including PFAS-related process chemicals common in semiconductor manufacturing), and
Will consume millions of gallons of water per day, adding pressure to local water and wastewater systems.

Yet SK hynix still has not:

released a full list of chemicals,
shown concrete PFAS-related handling and monitoring plans, or
presented a transparent water-use and discharge plan to residents.

At the same time, a childcare facility next to this heavy-industry site has been touted as a “community benefit” in partnership with PRF—putting very young children right at the fence line of an I-3 zone.

That is the exact opposite of a precautionary approach.

Amkor proved that location is a choice.

SK hynix and PRF are choosing a dangerous option for our community—and then SK hynix acting surprised that we object.

What We are Asking For

If SK hynix and local officials genuinely care about safety and trust, they should:

Commit to a safer, truly industrial location away from homes, schools, and daycares (as Amkor did in Peoria).
Release the full chemical list, including PFAS-related substances, with independent expert review.
Provide a clear, enforceable water-use and wastewater plan, with hard caps and real monitoring.
Share detailed emergency-response plans with our fire department, schools, daycares, and the public.
Stop using small, closed-door style meetings as PR tools and instead hold open, recorded public forums where everyone can hear the same answers.

Until that happens, SK hynix’s “surprise” at community concern is not confusion—it’s a tactic.

What You Can Do

Share this update with neighbors, coworkers, and parents at your child's school or daycare.
Read and share our previous PFAS update about national court cases holding polluters accountable: https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-stop-heavy-industry-near-our-homes/u/34069122
Support the lawsuit fighting to keep heavy industry away from our homes: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-neighborhood-from-industrial-threat
Email city leaders and remind them that Amkor moved—West Lafayette deserves a solution too.
- Mayor: eeaster@westlafayette.in.gov
- City Council: CityCouncil@westlafayette.in.gov
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Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stopheavyindustry