EPA to drop requirement for public notice of polluting datacenters
State and local regulators would decide whether the public gets a say on minor-source permits
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to revise guidelines concerning public notice for minor-source air permits, which may impact datacenter projects. The Environmental Protection Network (EPN), composed of former EPA employees, warns that this change could hinder the transparency of environmental decisions related to industrial developments, including datacenter facilities.
Currently, federal rules dictate mandatory public participation in minor New Source Review (NSR) permits, but the proposed rule change would allow states to decide on the necessity of public notification and input. Critics argue this move undermines transparency and could enable polluting facilities to operate without public scrutiny.
The EPN's concerns echo previous administration pledges to promote openness in environmental decision-making, as stated by former EPA Deputy Director Mike Koerber. While the EPA's current administrator, Lee Zeldin, has expressed skepticism toward national environmental regulations for the datacenter industry, stating that local governments are better suited to handle such matters, the EPN contends that the proposed rule contradicts this stance.
Written by urgent.news from The Register Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
