John Ryder, DEP Deputy Secretary for Field Operations, briefed the Council on data center issues impacting the Department.
Ryder started by saying-- “I'd be shocked if you could turn on the evening news in any part of Pennsylvania and perhaps not hear a story about data centers or data center development and the issues in our local communities across Pennsylvania.
“We currently have 17 active data centers in Pennsylvania. When I say active, what I mean by that is we have permits that have been submitted.
“We've heard about so many more. I think the number approaches 34 now where there is a prospective data center, they've been proposed, they've been talked about.
“We may have read something about them at some point in time, but as of yet, we have not received permits, applications or active interaction with a data center development group.”
Approach To Data Center Projects
“From a land use and development perspective, data centers, they're not unlike many other large scale commercial or industrial developments we see.
“They typically consist of a series of large box style buildings, internal access rows, surface parking, stormwater control features and landscaping comparable and footprint.
“Unlike those uses though, data centers generate significantly less traffic and typically have lower onsite employment numbers.
“What certainly makes data centers unique and especially relevant from an environmental planning standpoint is their reliance on two key infrastructure elements-- proximity to robust power utilities to support their energy needs and access to water resources often for cooling purposes.
“These siting requirements make coordination between data center developers, local governments, and environmental agencies critical.”
Fast Track Permitting
In response to a question about how data center projects are considered under the Governor's Permit Fast Track Program, Ryder said the Office of Transformation and Opportunity "make[s] decisions [on] whether or not they're a fast track project to us at the department."
"I don't think they confer any special significance whatsoever when it comes to permitting.
"They're still required to get the same permits that are under the same timeframes and the same regulatory criteria as any other form of development in Pennsylvania.
“But again, just to reaffirm, we still treat these folks like any other project developer in the common wealth, they need to get the same permits and meet the same standards and requirements as part of the permitting process.”
[Note: Nine of the 17 projects in the Governor's Permit Fast Track Program have been identified as data center projects as of May 14, 2026.]
Required Permits
Ryder said-- “Data center development in Pennsylvania typically requires a range of environmental authorizations from the Department of Environmental Protection to be compliant with state and federal laws and regulations.
“These may include Federal Clean Water Act Chapter 102 NPDES permits or disturbance activities and post-construction stormwater management.
“If the project involves stream crossings or wetland impacts, the Chapter 105 water obstruction encroachment permit may be necessary.
“Pennsylvania Act 537 sewage planning is required to address sewage disposal needs and accommodate any proposed wastewater discharges.
“Depending on water use, developers may also need approvals or dockets from the Delaware River Basin Commission or the Susquehanna River Basin Commission for water withdrawals.
“Discharges from sewage wastewater or cooling water may also require NPDES permits.
“Onsite non-community drinking water systems must comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
“Construction of wastewater or sewage treatment facilities may also require water quality management permits and storage tanks site specific installation permits.
“In terms of air quality, facilities utilizing onsite power generation and backup generators will need air quality plan approvals, Title V operating permits, or minor air quality plan approvals depending on the scale.
“Data center projects often involve coordination with multiple agencies, including the United States Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and certainly our county conservation districts.”
[Note: On August 11, 2025, DEP provided a permitting primer for data centers to the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Read more here.]
Facilitating A Smoother Permitting Process
Ryder explained-- “Based on our experience with data center proposals, we continue to emphasize a few key permitting and coordination strategies that can help developers navigate the regulatory landscape more efficiently.
“These strategies range from early pre-application meetings to upfront evaluations of sewage, air quality, ecological, and federal water resource requirements can improve permitting efficiency at times, but it certainly can also save our staff the valuable time we need.”
DEP Staff Resources
Ryder said-- “We really are trying to keep a close eye on our staffing resources and the amount of employees, number of employees we have that can work on these projects.
“It's been on my mind for two years now. We continue to try to think about those workloads and how to manage them appropriately.”
Visit the DEP Citizens Advisory Council webpage for available handouts and more information. Questions should be directed to Ian Irvin, Executive Director, at iirvin@pa.gov or 717-579-0329.
Related Articles This Week:
-- PUC Releases Final Order Establishing First-of-Its-Kind Voluntary Large Load (Data Center) Model Tariff Framework [PaEN]
-- UGI Energy Services, Prime Data Centers Announce $100 Million Partnership To Develop New Natural Gas Infrastructure For A Power Plant To Feed A.I. Data Center Development, Likely In Cameron, Potter Or Tioga Counties [PaEN]
-- Clean Air Board Of Central PA To Host May 21 Community Forum On A.I. Data Centers - What Citizens Should Ask Of Data Centers In Carlisle, Cumberland County And Online [PaEN]
-- DEP Denies Water Encroachment Permit For PA General Energy Co. 3.9 Mile Permanent Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Penneco Environmental Replacing Tubing, Other Equipment At Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Plum Boro, Allegheny County Due To Leak, Corrosion [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues 12 Violations To Delta Inland Oil Res LLC For Abandoning, Not Plugging Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Warren County; 223 Abandonment Violations Issued In 2026, So Far [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Lessons From A Children's Story: If You Give The Oil & Gas Industry A Wellpad, It Will Lead To An Escalating Chain Of More Polluting Gas Infrastructure - By Melissa Ostroff, EarthWorks [PaEN]
-- ‘Emergency’ Upset Natural Gas/Chemical Flares At Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Burned Overnight From At Least 8:52 p.m. May 10 to 3:30 a.m. May 11 - Breathecam
-- ‘Emergency’ Upset Natural Gas/Chemical Flares At The MarkWest Harmon Creek/Energy Transfer Revolutions Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plants Burned All Night Again In Washington County - Live Breathe Project Cameras [May 12]
-- Philadelphia Energy Authority Energy Campaign Achieves $2 Billion In Economic Impact, Creates 11,000 Jobs, Over $1.4 Billion In Energy Savings In First 10 Year, Exceeding Initial Goals [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Center Square: Citizens A.I. Data Center Town Hall Speakers Criticize Industry, Shapiro, Secrecy [Vast Extent Of Intense Opposition To PA Data Center Boom Bulldozing Communities Evident In Town Hall]
-- Scranton Times: 16 New A.I. Data Center Buildings Proposed In Olyphant By Companies Tied To DeNaples, Missouri Firm
-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Developer Seeks Approval For 3 Natural Gas Data Center Power Plants In Dickson City, Lackawanna County; Hearings Set [In Addition To Proposed 400MW Power Plant]
-- Scranton Times: Lackawanna County Commissioner Launches Anti-Data Center Ad Campaign With TV Spots, Website [Show Up Lackawanna website]
-- Pipeline & Gas Journal: UGI To Build Natural Gas Infrastructure To Support Large-Scale A.I. Hyperscale Data Center Campus Development In Northern Tier PA [Cameron, Potter, Tioga Counties]
-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: PECO Signs Agreements With A.I. Data Centers Requiring Them To Pay For Their Own Grid Upgrades
-- TribLive Guest Essay: How To Save Billions On Energy Bills - Set PJM Price Cap At $175/MWday Not Present $325 - By Kevin Walker, President, Duquesne Light Co
-- Bloomberg: US Power Prices Climb 61% Faster Than Inflation As Data Center Demand Surges
-- Utility Dive: PJM Grid Operator May Be ‘Too Big To Function:’ FERC Chairman Swett
-- EPA Issues Guidance On’Streamlining’ Air Pollution Operating Permits To Expedite Approvals
-- Inside Climate News: President’s EPA Seeks Looser Air Pollution Permitting Rules For Natural Gas Power Plants, Data Centers And Factories; Allow Construction Before Permits Are Issued
[Posted: May 14, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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