EPA to Investigate Meta Data Center Link to Contaminated Water

An Environmental Protection Agency administrator vowed to investigate if a massive Meta Inc. data center project contaminated drinking water in Morgan County, Ga., during a congressional hearing Wednesday.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) held up two jars of murky, brown drinking water she said were from the rural Georgia area she visited earlier this month. Jessica Kramer, an assistant administrator who leads the EPA’s water office, said she would probe possible water quality issues for the municipality neighboring the construction of the computing campus.

“I will be looking into exactly what you’ve just talked about, because anywhere, whatever type of construction it is, it is a priority to ensure the water quality standards established by EPA are being met,” Kramer said under oath.

Kramer committed to investigating the water concerns as the Trump Administration aims to fast track federal permits and environmental reviews for data centers under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin has said he wants to help developers build more data centers needed for artificial intelligence.

Ocasio-Cortez’s questioning came after the representative introduced a bill with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to pause data center construction nationwide last month. During her visit to Morgan County she said residents told her they’re relying on bottled water, while home appliances stopped working after explosive blasts and tree clearing connected to the data center’s construction.

Meta Inc. publicly operates the Stanton Springs Data Center 16 miles away from Morgan County, but doesn’t have any new development listed in the township Ocasio-Cortez described. Meta Inc. didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.