TCEQ suspended 17 data center permits and temporarily shut down the STEERS portal
TCEQ suspended 17 permits allowing earthworks at data centers in Texas. It also temporarily shut down the STEERS portal for automatic approvals so that staff could check whether applications relate to data centers.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) suspended 17 permits related to data center construction. The newsroom at 404 Media verified in the central registry that their status had changed from active to suspended. The agency also temporarily shut down the STEERS portal used for automatic approval of applications.
The suspended permits cover stormwater management during construction and allow earthworks, including land grading. According to a notice on the STEERS portal, the temporary shutdown is intended to ensure that agency staff review all applications to determine whether they relate to data centers.
The action followed reports that permits continued to be issued despite a call in September from Governor Greg Abbott for a suspension. According to Sam Law, a researcher at FracTracker Alliance, automatic approvals also included projects by OpenAI and Amazon. TCEQ did not respond to a request for comment from 404 Media.
Why it matters
The suspension affects permits for specific construction work, and securing these permits may be one of the final steps before that work begins. The current permit status is therefore important for planning construction of the affected data centers; prior approval alone may no longer be enough.
Relevant practical impact
What this means
For a business
For the affected projects, there is a risk that contractors will rely on a permit that was initially active. Sam Law warned that they may be unaware of the suspension; however, the article does not confirm that work is continuing.
Risks and complianceCheck the original
Event sources
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