Lake Superior Academy Elementary School in Canada has filed a lawsuit against a cryptocurrency mining facility, citing noise concerns. The noise from the mining facility, located on the Mackinac Trail just seven miles south of Sault Ste. Marie, is said to be a shrill, metallic sound reminiscent of the chirping of mechanical insects.
The school’s principal, Susie Schlehuber, said noise levels at the edge of the school’s grounds across the road reached 75 decibels earlier this year, equivalent to the sound of a vacuum cleaner.
She noted that the noise level at the entrance to the school was about 65 decibels, like a washing machine. However, the unpleasant, shrill metallic whistle began to bother her back in March.
The school’s lawsuit says the noise was reduced somewhat by placing hay bales on the property, and despite a court order to temporarily halt work for two weeks, the noise continued.
“It’s 24/7. It never stops,” Schlehuber said, adding that she founded the school with an environmental focus, meaning students spend time outdoors, outside of the classroom.
Schlehuber noted that the noise was especially noticeable because of this practice. “We felt the noise even more than if we had stayed in the classroom with the doors closed,” she said. The principal claims that they had to stop classes on the lawn in front of the building, close the windows and stop the construction of two new classrooms.
The cryptocurrency mining operation consists of six autonomous units owned by Odessa Partners LLC of Boca Raton, Florida. According to documents provided by the company’s attorneys, it includes two other legal entities: Wyoming Partners Irrevocably Statutory Trust, registered in Cheyenne, and Valletta Corp, LLC, registered in Delaware.
Both companies are linked to Florida native Michael Carbonara. Carbonara is the CEO of Ibanera, a fintech and cross-border payments company, according to its website. He has also applied for a permit to build a mining facility. Carbonara and Odessa Partners have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
The last time the two companies spoke was after Chippewa County Judge James Lambros ordered a temporary halt to operations last month. Odessa Partners filed the lawsuit, claiming it is losing about $15,000 a day and has already taken steps to reduce noise, including placing hay bales in front of its machinery.
The motion also noted that the school’s property is located along Interstate 75 and argued that “the noise that plaintiff claims to be emanating from defendant’s property is presumably less than that typically generated by uses and activities occurring on the other side of plaintiff’s property.”
However, Schlehuber disputed this claim, noting: “There is a huge difference between the noise from a loud truck passing several times a day and constant noise.”
She also said she had been trying to reach out to Odessa Partners on the issue since March, but had seen no improvement in the resolution of the problem. “We knew we needed to take additional steps beyond just talking to them,” she said.
According to the CEO of OOM Technologies, which operates a computer hosting facility near Odessa Partners, the area is suitable for miners because of the resources available. He also added that the cold is one of the reasons, noting that “the most effective way to cool is natural air flow.”
Source: cryptonews.net
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *