Data Center Issues and EPA Rule – a Call for LWVD Advocacy
By League of Women Voters Dallas Advocacy Team
Dallas City Council members have opened a request for a hearing and a vote to potentially amend the development code regarding data centers. This is our chance to send letters to our city council members, to submit Letters to the Editor at Dallas Morning News and for our president, Ashley Washington, to testify before Dallas City Council. League of Women Voters Local Program Positions includes: ”upgrading zoning to address incompatible land use” and under the Bill of Rights “we have the obligation to exercise this right- Environment: The city of Dallas shall guarantee clean air and water, freedom from exposure to environmental hazards indoors, and preservation and conservation of natural open spaces and parks.” Our Advocacy Environment Issue Specialists will keep us informed about a hearing date about this issue when it is announced.
Another troubling item involves a proposed change to an EPA rule that eliminates federal minimum standards for public notice and comment periods on “minor” air pollution permits. “Minor” here includes concrete batch plants, rock crushers and backup diesel generators for data centers. If finalized, state agencies like the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will have total discretion to decide if, when, and how the public is notified about smaller industrial projects. This is yet one more example of the state encroaching on the rights of Texas municipalities and an encroachment on Dallas Home Rule. The short public comment period ends August 21st.
We have called this item to the attention of the LWV Texas as it appears to be a state issue to be addressed by the State League. However, since the impact on Dallas would be so great should the proposed change be passed, we would be wise to speak out now before the proposed change to the EPA rule passes.
If you wish to submit a comment, here is a suggested message. Please do not mention League of Women Voters. Only our President Ashley Washington has the authority to speak for the League. The deadline to submit a comment is August 21st.
Dear Administrator,
I am writing to strongly oppose the EPA’s proposed rule to eliminate federal public notice requirements for minor New Source Review (NSR) permits. Giving state agencies total discretion over public participation will severely harm communities like mine in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex.
The DFW region is already in federally designated nonattainment for ground-level ozone standards. Our air quality routinely fails to meet health safety margins, which triggers frequent ozone alerts and directly risks the health of local children, elderly residents, and individuals with respiratory issues.
Under this proposed rule, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) would have full discretion to eliminate public notice and comment periods for "minor" stationary sources. However, facilities categorized as minor—such as concrete batch plants, rock crushers, and diesel backup generators for the region's rapidly growing data centers—release substantial amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These are the exact precursor emissions that combine to create ground-level ozone and smog.
DFW residents are already bearing the burden of unsafe air. Stripping away federal minimum baselines for public notice means our communities may lose the right to even know when a new ozone-contributing facility is opening next to our neighborhoods, schools, or parks.
The EPA must maintain its federal oversight and protect public health in vulnerable, nonattainment regions. I urge you to preserve mandatory federal public notice and comment periods for all minor air pollution permits.
Sincerely,
[Your Name or "A Concerned Dallas-Fort Worth Resident"]
[Your City, TX]
If you wish to reach out, here is the step-by-step process for submitting a comment.
- Find the rule: Go directly to the official Regulations.gov Docket Document. You can also search for Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-1212 on the Regulations.gov homepage.
- Click "Comment": Look for the blue Comment button near the top left of the document page.
- Write your message: Type your feedback directly into the text box, or upload your statement as a PDF or Word attachment.
- Submit: Fill out the required form fields (you can choose to comment anonymously) and click submit.
Thank you to our Advocacy Team Member Environment Issue Specialist Paula Day for providing us with this important information.
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