Beaver Dams And Permit Processes: Planning and Environmental Commissions Talk Data Center Impacts

At a joint meeting on April 15, Calvert County's Planning Commission and Environmental Commission convened to address the potential environmental ramifications of a proposed Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center. Dr. Janette Wysocki of the Environmental Commission highlighted that the intended site is a vital wetland and home to a critical beaver population, a keystone species essential for ecosystem health. She warned that development would introduce sediments and runoff into local creeks and the Patuxent River. Dr. Wysocki also noted that a 2011 study by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission had previously identified the wetlands as a sensitive area requiring protection, a reason past developers avoided the site. Despite this, the AWS project is directly planned for this critical location. Planning Commission member David Bury questioned if the Army Corps of Engineers would review the plan, but Environmental Commission member Dr. David Campbell stated that data centers are not federally regulated, making their involvement uncertain. Planning and Zoning Director Jason Brinkley confirmed AWS had submitted documentation to the Maryland Department of the Environment, but he did not have access to it nor knew the level of environmental review triggered. Commissions expressed significant concern about the permit process, particularly the lack of formal opportunities for independent review or appeals outside of public comment periods. Dr. Wysocki underscored the need for a thorough process, referencing a failed moratorium and stating, "Their speed to market shouldn’t be our problem. Our problem should be preserving this incredible ecosystem."