OABA Member Alert: Ohio EPA Will Not Finalize Proposed Data Center General Permit

Ohio EPA has announced it will not finalize the proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for data centers, a positive outcome for Ohio's agribusiness industry. This decision comes after Ohio EPA reviewed a significant volume of public comments on the draft permit.

Instead, the agency will continue regulating data center wastewater discharges through the existing individual NPDES permitting process, which provides site-specific review while maintaining the same rigorous environmental protections required under state and federal law.

OABA submitted comments expressing concerns with the proposal and joined other stakeholders in advocating for an approach that preserves the existing individual permitting process while ensuring appropriate environmental oversight.

In announcing its decision, Ohio EPA stated that the individual NPDES permit issuance process is the most appropriate path forward at this time.