DEP accepting public comment on proposed Mason County data center through Wednesday

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) clarified that it is accepting public comments on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)/State Storm Water Construction permit for a proposed data center in Mason County, West Virginia, through March 25. This clarification followed a release from the West Virginia Citizen Action Group (WV CAG), which highlighted a discrepancy between two previously circulated deadlines, one published in a newspaper (March 15) and another shared via the DEP's listserv (March 25). The WV CAG expressed concern that the conflicting deadlines effectively limited the public's ability to participate in the permitting process. During a community meeting held in Point Pleasant on March 17, over 60 residents, elected officials, and stakeholders gathered, with transparency being a central issue. Julie Archer, Deputy Director of WV CAG, praised the DEP's decision to review additional comments, stating that "People just wanted a fair chance to be heard." The group is actively encouraging residents to submit their comments by the new deadline and remain involved as the permitting process continues.