Ohio Farm Bureau applauds Ohio EPA decision to maintain permitting process for data centers

By Ryan Matthews
Director of Communications and Media Relations
Ohio Farm Bureau 

Ohio Farm Bureau welcomes the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to maintain the existing individual permitting process for wastewater discharge.

The decision not to finalize a proposed general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for data centers follows an extensive public comment period, during which Ohio Farm Bureau members and staff urged Ohio EPA to retain the current permitting framework. The organization expressed concerns that a general permit would undermine years of progress made by Ohio farmers and conservation partners to improve water quality.

Ohio Farm Bureau also noted that the current permitting framework already provides a thorough, project-specific review of each facility based on its unique operations and potential environmental impacts.

“This is the right decision for our state, and we appreciate Ohio EPA’s willingness to listen to our members’ concerns and maintain their current permitting approach,” said Jack Irvin, vice president of public policy for Ohio Farm Bureau. “The individualized NPDES permitting process, for facilities like data centers, gives regulators the ability to evaluate each project based on its unique circumstances while maintaining Ohio’s work toward water quality.”

Ohio Farm Bureau supports responsible economic development and will continue to advocate for policies that protect Ohio’s water resources, farmland and rural communities.