Virginia regulators issue Notice to Google over Chesterfield runoff

Virginia environmental regulators allege that construction at Google’s Project Peanut data center site in Chesterfield County caused repeated unpermitted sediment runoff, impacting 7,735 linear feet of stream channel, 0.75 acres of forested wetlands, and 0.65 acres of emergent wetlands between December 2025 and August 2026, 12onyourside.com reported.

Notice of Violation Issued Over Chesterfield Runoff

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a Notice of Violation to Peanut LLC on Sept. 29. The document details seven reported sediment runoff incidents that regulators say were not authorized under the project’s existing Virginia Water Protection permit.

State inspectors estimated that sediment accumulated up to 12 inches deep in some stream channels. Tom Dunlap, James Riverkeeper with the James River Association, explained the ecological toll of such accumulations.

Sediment can just bury wildlife and vegetation, smothering and killing it. It can also diminish the capacity of the wetlands and streams to function the way they’re intended.

Tom Dunlap

Dunlap noted that while wetlands serve as vital transition zones between land and waterways, they become overwhelmed easily by projects just like these. In addition to the physical deposits, the Department of Environmental Quality alleges that some of the incidents were not reported within the 24-hour window required by the project permit.

Google Responds to Stormwater Controls and Heavy Rainfall

Google attributed the runoff events to severe weather that exceeded existing mitigation infrastructure at the Chesterfield County worksite. In a statement provided to 12onyourside.com, the company emphasized its environmental stance.

We take environmental stewardship very seriously. Significant rainfall at the site overwhelmed existing stormwater controls and resulted in sediment runoff. We temporarily paused general construction operations to focus on cleanup, environmental protection and stabilizing the site, and most of the items identified in the Notice of Violation have already been addressed. We are actively working with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and taking additional steps to strengthen erosion controls against future heavy rainfall. We remain committed to meeting all applicable environmental requirements and keeping the community informed of our progress.

Google

Dunlap argued that proactive protection remains more effective than reactive cleanup. As with any environmental impact, like the ones that are documented in this instance, it’s significantly better in every single case to protect the environment on the front end than it is to try and remediate on the back end, Dunlap said.

Peanut LLC Faces Civil Charges If Remediation Fails

Under the terms issued by the Department of Environmental Quality, full compliance and remediation completed within 30 days could allow the agency to administratively close the matter. If Peanut LLC fails to meet that 30-day window, state regulators may pursue formal enforcement actions, which include potential civil charges. The agency told 12onyourside.com that the Notice of Violation serves as a referral to enforcement and declined further comment on pending actions.

Separately, Google announced a $10 million investment directed toward energy affordability, weatherization, home repairs, and workforce development across the state. This funding package includes $9.5 million allocated to the Virginia Community Action Partnership and $500,000 for FLIPP Inc., touching Chesterfield County and other regional communities as part of a broader $15 million Virginia Energy Impact Fund initiative.