Lawsuit filed over proposed Google data center site near Sand Springs

A lawsuit has been filed by the conservation group Land Legacy against the proposed Google data center project located just east of Highway 97 and a mile south of Rock School Road near Sand Springs, Oklahoma. The group contends that the chosen site in Osage County was never eligible for industrial development due to a conservation easement signed in 2013 with the landowners. According to Land Legacy, the easement restricted 270 of the 827 acres from industrial uses, roads, or buildings, allowing only agricultural activities. The lawsuit alleges that the landowners are proceeding with development in "bad faith," violating the original agreement and potentially misleading the City of Sand Springs and Google about the land's restrictions. Beyond the contractual dispute, Land Legacy also expressed significant environmental concerns. They highlight the need for extensive blasting and earth movement to prepare the site in the Osage Hills, which they fear would severely impact local waterways, particularly Turkey Creek. The future of the project now hinges on the outcome of the court proceedings. FOX23 News reached out to the Ringle family, the City of Sand Springs, and Google for comment; the city stated it does not expect the lawsuit to affect the project.