On June 5, 2026, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) issued a Section 401 Water Quality Certificate for Phase III of the Project Zodiac Data Center in Fort Wayne, IN. This decision comes after IDEM held a public hearing and received several comments, both oral and written, regarding the environmental and water quality impacts of the Phase III build out. Many comments and Fort Wayne residents urged IDEM to deny the permit.
Unless IDEM determines that the proposed permit is not in compliance with regulations in the Clean Water Act or Indiana’s Water Quality Standards, the permit may be issued to impact federally regulated wetlands, despite local opposition.
With this permit approval, HEC anticipates that the Project Zodiac Data Center has secured all the wetland permits needed to impact state and federally regulated waterways to construct all phases of the data center. The approval letter, IDEM’s response to public comments, and all written and oral comments received can be viewed below.
Learn more
Section 401 Water Quality Certificate Approval Letter
IDEM’s Response to Public Comments
Written Comments Received
Transcript of Oral Testimony at Virtual Public Hearing
Categories: Public Comments, Sustainable Development and Green Infrastructure, Water & Wilderness Protection, Wetlands