EPA Moves to Scrap Public Review for Data Center Pollution Permits
The EPA Is Planning to Scrap Public Review Rules for Data Center Pollution
The EPA plans to eliminate the federal requirement that states notify the public and allow comments before approving air-pollution permits for industrial facilities, including data centers and their power plants. A separate proposal would let developers start building before permits are approved. Critics say this erases one of the few chances for residents—especially in Black communities across the rural South—to learn about projects, ask questions, or challenge health and cost impacts.
It is a betrayal of everything that this country should stand for, purports to stand for. It runs counter to the will of the people.
- GolfPopper
This is bad news for everyone (well, except the high priests of the LLMs / nascent Cthulhoid godlings), but it certainly makes the communities who've successfully opposed data centers seem ever more justified in retrospect.
- agentultra
The EPA hasn’t been able to regulate anything since it’s been gutted by the current administration. Of course it’s going to scrap rules. We’re not even allowed to measure the effects of climate change.
- JohnFen
That's in line with the EPA's new mission of ensuring environmental degradation.
- twsted
I can’t believe we’re seeing so much bad news coming from EPA. Why all this backtracking from an agency that used to be so effective and well organized? Well, I guess we know the reason.
- snowwrestler
These changes will last exactly as long as this administration, so it would be a pretty foolish business that makes long term investment decisions based on this announcement.
- 59percentmore
Antis are running out of time to stop what they wish to stop without resorting to destructive methods (bold and extreme action is already necessary).
Pros are running out of time to square their ambitions with a public that's about to go from needing a leg up to a public that wants their heads.
- awakeasleep
I wonder if you could open any type of business as a datacenter now, to avoid the review.
- l1n
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-proposes-streamline-sta...