Amazon is plowing ahead on their data center project without permission or approval. Once again, Amazon is behaving as though rules don’t apply to them. Your help is needed now to demand a public hearing on the site clearing they have already performed. Let’s not forget – the powerline for Amazon’s data centers has yet to be resolved.
Amazon is required to obtain approval from the Army Corps of Engineers for federal and state permits to clear the land for their proposed data centers. The Army Corps of Engineers recently posted, on December 5, a public notice regarding Amazon’s application. There is a fast-approaching deadline for the public to submit comments to the Army Corps of Engineers on the requested permits – by COB this Friday, December 16. Submit your comments using our easy click-to-send.
In advance of required approvals, it appears as though Amazon may have already encroached on and filled in some, if not all, of the stream channel and pallustine forested wetlands at the proposed Amazon data center site. Pictures taken of the site on 12/11/16 available on our website. They are doing whatever they want – national public approval process be damned! Only as an afterthought, are they going through the motions of submitting a request for permits from the Army Corps of Engineers.
There are very specific rules that apply in this case – since the proposed data center site is located within the core of the Buckland Mills Battlefield. Here is a quote from the Army Corps of Engineers public notice about Amazon’s application (emphasis added):
“…The discharge of fill is associated with the construction of a proposed 3 building data center complex and it’s associated infrastructure. Issuance of this permit constitutes a Federal undertaking, subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Procedures have been established which must be followed in order for the Corps to comply with the NHPA and other applicable historic preservation laws. In compliance with the NHPA, the Norfolk District is interested in identifying “consulting parties” with whom to coordinate the effects of the project on historic properties, and possible means of avoiding or mitigating adverse effects on such properties.”
“The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of this proposed activity…. Anyone may request a public hearing to consider this permit application by writing to the District Commander within 30 days of the date of this notice, stating specific reasons for holding the public hearing. The District Commander will then decide if a hearing should be held.”
Entire notice at this link: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/Article/1020488/cenao-2006-01343/.
Please use this easy click-to-send email TODAY to let them know that this community expects a public hearing, and proper oversight of this project.