Residents, commissioners highlight wetlands concerns ahead of April 30 Army Corps hearing on data center project

Several public commenters and commissioners at the April 22 St. Joseph County meeting urged residents to attend an April 30 Army Corps of Engineers hearing on a proposed Amazon data center project that would fill county wetlands near New Carlisle.

Dan Caruso of New Carlisle, speaking during public comment, apologized to local open-space advocates and urged county leaders to halt further data center development that would remove wetlands. Caruso said the Army Corps is holding a hearing April 30 on filling wetlands "to put in up to 6 more data shells" south of State Road 2 and near Gordon Road, and criticized proposed mitigation that would relocate wetlands to the Kankakee Basin. "What it does for the amphibious life ... they're gonna die," Caruso said, and urged attendees to oppose the wetlands fill.

An online commenter identified as Cheryl noted April 22 was Earth Day and emphasized wetlands’ roles in water purification, flood control and climate resilience, and said she planned to attend the April 30 hearing. Commission President Baxmayer responded in the meeting that federal wetland mitigation policy dates to the 1970s and mitigation is governed by existing rules; he said Amazon is acting to comply with regulations and encouraged citizens to attend the hearing to express their views.

The board did not take formal action on the project at the meeting. Commissioners and county staff encouraged public participation in the Army Corps hearing; no decision about county approval or permits was recorded at the session.