Construction begins on a data center located on a Superfund site in Chester County, raising safety concerns.
Residents of East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania are expressing growing concerns over a proposed 1.5 million-square-foot data center to be constructed on a former Superfund site. The location, which once housed the Cyprus Foote Mineral Company, has a history of contamination from various hazardous chemicals, including lithium, arsenic, and hexavalent chromium. The development by Green Fig LLC and Sentinel Data Centers, proposed since 2018, has faced scrutiny from the community amid fears of possible health risks and environmental impacts.
Kelly Donia, a resident of nearby Malvern Hunt, became alarmed when she witnessed dust plumes from construction vehicles at the site. Concerned for her family and neighbors, she drove to the construction area to voice her apprehension about building on a site with such a troubled legacy. Donia is not alone in her worries; many residents have been actively participating in township meetings to contest the project’s advancement, particularly as it stands on land previously deemed hazardous.
Following community outcry, the township issued a stop-work order, pending a review of the project’s environmental implications. While developers argue that the site has been deemed safe for construction, many local residents insist that existing reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicate ongoing contamination issues. Residents are particularly anxious about the potential for construction-related activities to disturb ground pollutants, risking air and drinking water quality.
The history of the Cyprus Foote Mineral site dates back to 1941, when the company began mineral processing operations. The site was added to the federal Superfund list in 1992 due to the extensive environmental damage caused over decades. Cleanup initiatives led by the EPA have included capping contaminated areas and monitoring groundwater.
In its most recent assessments, the EPA confirmed that the pollutants present exceed levels deemed safe for unrestricted use and exposure. Concerns are further heightened by the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which continue to pose potential health risks.
As the developers seek to amend their plans, township officials have stated they require further information regarding the project’s environmental viability. With the situation still unresolved, it remains a contentious issue for East Whiteland Township residents, who continue to advocate for transparency and safety in relation to the community’s health and environmental well-being.
The continuation of discussions and evaluations around this data center proposal highlights an ongoing conflict between development and environmental safety, positioning local governance in a challenging position as stakeholders seek to balance economic growth with public health concerns.
