EPA hosts data center public hearing in southeastern Ohio

The Ohio EPA recently hosted a public hearing concerning Google's proposed $1 billion data center in Franklin Furnace, Ohio. The data center project requires several permit approvals, including a wetlands permit, which was the focus of the hearing. Residents expressed a wide range of concerns about the development. Neighbors highlighted that the area was never zoned for commercial use and worried about the impact on their homes and livelihoods. Barbara Hand, who owns the Holiday Point Marina, specifically voiced fears about the project's effect on local wildlife, including bald eagles, river otters, and deer. She also noted potential water pollution, stating that digging and moving dirt could cause siltation in creeks that flow into her marina. Other community concerns included the proximity to nearby schools, drainage issues, and air quality. The EPA acknowledged that species in wetlands would be impacted if filled in, recognizing this as an unfortunate reality of development. The Ohio EPA is set to review the wetlands permit while considering the public's feedback on these various environmental and community impacts.