Ohio EPA Rejects Streamlined Permitting for Data Center Wastewater
The Ohio EPA has decided against a proposed plan to create a standardized, streamlined wastewater permitting framework for data centers. Future projects will continue to undergo individual, site-specific permit reviews.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recently dropped a proposal that would have allowed data centers to operate under a standardized wastewater permitting framework. The decision followed significant pushback from environmental groups, including the Alliance for the Great Lakes, who raised concerns about the potential impact of varying cooling system discharges on local water bodies.
Currently, most data centers in Ohio discharge their wastewater into municipal treatment systems rather than directly into surface waters. Only one facility in the state holds an NPDES permit for direct discharge, highlighting the rarity of the practice.
By maintaining the current individual permit review process, the Ohio EPA ensures that each facility's discharge characteristics are evaluated based on site-specific conditions. This approach prioritizes environmental protection over administrative simplification for the rapidly expanding data center industry.
EPA Proposes Major Changes to 401 Water Quality Certification
The EPA has published a proposed rule to update substantive and procedural requirements for 401 Water Quality Certifications. The changes aim to clarify the regulatory framework for projects impacting water resources.
Source: Williams Mullen
Asheboro Wastewater Treatment Plant Leaks Toxic Chemical Into Waters
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality found the Asheboro Wastewater Treatment Plant discharged 1,4-dioxane at 91 times the safe monthly average, notifying downstream water utilities.
Source: WFDD
Gelita USA Opens New Wastewater Treatment Plant Near Sergeant Bluff After Iowa DNR Violations
Gelita USA opened a new wastewater treatment plant near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, following prior violations cited by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Source: KTIV
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