DEP issues enforcement order for Mason County data center site for stormwater violations
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an enforcement order against the Monarch Cloud Campus data center in Mason County due to stormwater violations. These violations led to flooding in a nearby residential area. The order halts work in a drainage area until stormwater controls are improved and checked by the DEP.
The construction of the Monarch Cloud Campus data center in Mason County, West Virginia, has been issued an enforcement order by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) following significant stormwater violations. Inspectors found that inadequate stormwater controls contributed to flooding in the Meadowlands Estates residential area, with residents experiencing runoff problems in both May and July.
The enforcement order mandates that Monarch strengthen its failing stormwater controls and address erosion and sediment concerns on the 2,000-acre site. It also temporarily halts all work in a specific drainage area until the required controls are fully implemented and approved by the DEP. Monarch has reportedly committed to covering property damage for affected residents and has initiated a voluntary home purchasing program. The data center project is slated to come online by 2028, with further expansions planned through 2031, and the DEP has stated that site inspections will continue until all corrections are made, with potential for further enforcement if additional violations are found.