IDEM hosts public hearing on Amazon Data Center near New Carlisle
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) held a virtual public hearing for Amazon's federal water quality permit application for its data center near New Carlisle. If approved, Amazon could impact wetlands and streams, requiring mitigation credits. Concerns were raised about Amazon's past unauthorized destruction of a wetland at the site.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) hosted a virtual public hearing concerning Amazon's federal water quality permit application for its data center located near New Carlisle, St. Joseph County, Indiana. The permit, if granted, would allow Amazon to impact wetlands and streams as necessary, with a requirement to purchase credits from Indiana's wetland mitigation program to offset these losses.
Public interest groups, such as the South Bend-Elkhart Bird Alliance, voiced significant concerns during the hearing. Jennifer Betts highlighted Amazon's prior unauthorized destruction of a wetland in August 2025 (likely a typo in the original text, should be 2023 or similar), questioning whether the company faced any repercussions for these actions.
Amazon has also faced scrutiny for its substantial 35-million-gallon per day de-watering requests for the site. IDEM will continue to accept written comments on the application through July 17 before making a final decision.