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the data center is being built on the site of an old aluminum plant, and the area surrounding it has already undergone numerous investigations for soil and groundwater contamination containing PCE, arsenic, fluoride, and the cancer-causing compounds PAHs and PCBs. while the linked EPA report seems to conclude that the contaminants on the site are "residual", it is still very much an actual superfund site. and someone decided to plunk a data center on it. the factory closed in 2005 and they were still finding new waste storage areas up until 2014, and construction is going to churn up all of that soil. i don't know enough about how well those contaminants travel as airborne dust, but it WILL get into the groundwater again with extensive disturbance like that. the current owners are now responsible for any remediation and i frankly do not trust fucking meta to keep anything from leaching anywhere. the site is also quite literally on top of tuscarora creek, which is extremely close to and flows directly into the potomac (and considering the current shitwater horizon situation our poor river REALLY does not need any more issues).