IDEM schedules public hearing on Google data center wetland permit
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is holding a virtual public hearing regarding Google's application for a state wetland permit. This permit is for Google's data center expansion in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which involves filling 2.13 acres of forested wetlands. The public can comment on the project's adherence to Indiana's water quality standards.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has scheduled a virtual public hearing for Tuesday, August 25, at 5 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. The hearing will address Google's application for a state wetland permit, which is necessary for the expansion of its data center campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The proposed expansion includes development on an 858-acre property that contains several isolated forest wetlands.
Google's plan involves filling approximately 2.13 acres of Class II isolated forested wetland with clean soil. Additionally, the project will impact about 0.93 acre of wetlands that do not require a state permit, for which Google intends to purchase 4.26 acres of forested wetland credits from the Openings Mitigation Bank in Fort Wayne to offset these impacts. The public hearing provides an opportunity for citizens to comment on whether the project meets Indiana's water quality standards. This permit review occurs amidst broader concerns regarding the state's wetland mitigation program, including a reported backlog in required mitigation projects and unfulfilled mitigation credit purchases.