Ohio EPA drops plan to permit data center discharges into lakes, rivers
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has abandoned its plan to streamline the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits process for data centers statewide. This decision was made after receiving a significant volume of public and political comments against the proposal.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would abandon its proposal to simplify the wastewater discharge permitting process for data centers across the state.
The agency had been considering streamlining its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which would have made it easier for data centers to discharge wastewater into Ohio's lakes, rivers, and streams. However, after receiving a "significant volume" of comments opposing the plan, the EPA decided to continue issuing permits on a case-by-case basis, deeming it "the most appropriate path forward at this time." An EPA spokesperson declined further comment on the decision.
The reversal came amid mounting public and political pressure. Helena Volzer, Senior Source Water Policy Manager for the Alliance for the Great Lakes, noted that the EPA had received thousands of opposing comments, some solicited by her organization. Politicians from both parties, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno and gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, had voiced concerns, advocating for data centers to meet high environmental standards and avoid discharging into freshwater bodies. Currently, most data centers in Ohio discharge into wastewater treatment facilities, with only one holding an existing NPDES license to discharge directly into freshwater.