Beaver Dams And Permit Processes: Planning and Environmental Commissions Talk Data Center Impacts

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — At the joint meeting of Calvert County’s Planning Commission and Environmental Commission on April 15, members discussed the possible impacts of data centers on the environment and how the county can best protect itself against them.

Dr. Janette Wysocki of the Environmental Commission outlined some of the concerns regarding the site of interest in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center plan. The area is a critical part of the wetlands and environmental structure in the county, and the narrow strip of land means impacts would be felt widely.

One particular item of note was that the area is home to a beaver population. Beavers are a keystone species that are considered pivotal architects of the land they live in; the presence of beavers in an area keeps waters clean, mitigates flood and fire risk, and fights off erosion.

“You’re taking away everything that cleans that ecosystem. That will introduce additional sediments, runoff, etc., into the creeks and into the Patuxent River,” Dr. Wysocki said.

Dr. Wysocki also said a previous study by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2011 determined that the wetlands were of significant concern and should be protected. Past developers chose not to use this site, but the AWS site is directly on top of this critical area.

Planning Commission member David Bury asked if this plan would trigger a review by the Army Corps of Engineers, but Environmental Commission member Dr. David Campbell pointed out that data centers are not federally regulated at this point, so they had no way of knowing if the Army Corps of Engineers would be involved.

“In regards to the concern about putting the card before the horse, we’re all scientists, so we’re not quite sure of the procedure for the permit process,” Dr. Campbell said. “We’re concerned that if a permit gets submitted and approved right away, we can’t introduce an environmental impact statement after the fact.”

Planning and Zoning Director Jason Brinkley confirmed that AWS had in fact submitted documentation to the Maryland Department of the Environment, but he did not have access to that documentation and didn’t know what level of environmental review has been triggered by the project. Bury wondered if the department’s evaluation would be accurate or if additional studies would be needed and speculated they’d be heavily informed by AWS’s own planning and research.

Brinkley added that site plan approval is a three-step process, with each step adding more depth and detail, though Planning Commission members expressed concern about the lack of formal opportunities to appeal reports or conduct independent reviews during the process outside of public comment periods.

“For us, it was more important to do it right than to do it fast,” Dr. Wysocki said, referencing the failed moratorium. “We don’t believe we should be held to AWS’s or Natelli’s timeline. “Their speed to market shouldn’t be our problem. Our problem should be preserving this incredible ecosystem for our children and for our grandchildren.”

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