Chester County Data Center on Superfund Site Raises Environmental and Safety Concerns
Residents in East Whiteland Township, Chester County, are raising significant safety concerns about a proposed 1.5 million-square-foot data center being built on a former Superfund site. Construction has started but faced a stop-work order due to environmental impact concerns, and the township recently tabled a decision on amended plans. The site remains on the EPA's National Priorities List due to ongoing contamination.
Residents of East Whiteland Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, are expressing serious safety concerns regarding the construction of a 1.5 million-square-foot data center complex on the former 79-acre Cyprus Foote Mineral Co. property, a designated Superfund site. Local resident Kelly Donia and her neighbors are particularly anxious about potential health impacts given the site's history of contamination with chemicals like lithium, arsenic, and hexavalent chromium.
Developer Green Fig LLC, in partnership with Sentinel Data Centers, initially proposed the project in 2018 and secured early zoning approvals, with township supervisors greenlighting plans in 2024. However, renewed community engagement and fears about construction disturbing lingering pollution in the air and drinking water led the township to issue a stop-work order. Despite the developer's assurances of safety and initial township approval, residents cite documents suggesting the site remains contaminated. The East Whiteland Township supervisors recently tabled a decision on amended project plans, seeking more information.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been involved in cleanup efforts since the site was added to the federal Superfund list in 1992. The EPA clarified that the site remains on the National Priorities List, contrary to a contractor's incorrect statement, with no timeline for complete remediation. A 2024 EPA report confirmed decreased pollutant concentrations but noted excessive amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and recommended updated land-use restrictions. While the EPA does not recommend specific redevelopment plans, it reviews proposals for conflicts with cleanup standards and human health protection.
Noah Kittner, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina, highlighted that redeveloping such a site raises "red flags," with the project's environmental impact heavily dependent on construction plans and operational sustainability. The project's future remains uncertain as it awaits further review by the township, with residents continuing to voice concerns over long-term construction activities.