State regulators allege environmental violations at Google data center site in Chesterfield
Virginia environmental regulators issued Google’s Project Peanut data center a Notice of Violation over seven alleged unpermitted sediment runoff incidents at the Chesterfield County construction site. Google said heavy rainfall overwhelmed stormwater controls, that construction was temporarily paused for cleanup, and that it is working with regulators on remediation.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a Notice of Violation to Peanut LLC, the entity associated with Google’s Project Peanut data center in Chesterfield County, alleging seven sediment runoff incidents between December 2025 and August 2026. DEQ said the runoff affected stream channels and wetlands, with some sediment deposits reaching 12 inches, and alleged that certain incidents were not reported within the 24-hour period required by the project’s permit.
Google attributed the violations to significant rainfall that overwhelmed stormwater controls and said it temporarily paused general construction to focus on cleanup and environmental protection. DEQ said the matter could be administratively closed if the alleged violations are corrected and environmental impacts remediated within 30 days; otherwise, the agency may pursue formal enforcement and civil charges. James Riverkeeper Tom Dunlap said preventing sediment from entering waterways is preferable to repairing the damage afterward.