🇺🇸 United States

EPA Proposes Eliminating Federal Minimum Public Participation Rules for Minor Air Permits, Affecting Data Centers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule that would remove minimum federal requirements for public notice and comment periods in state and local minor New Source Review air permitting programs. Environmental groups warn the change could reduce transparency for facilities such as data centers that often rely on backup generators classified as minor sources, while EPA officials say it aligns with the Clean Air Act and speeds permitting without weakening emission standards.