环保人士指控科技公司开发商通过人为分割排放源的方式，规避美国环保署对"主要"污染源的强制审查程序1。这种做法使企业能够为各个分散的污染源单独申请许可证，从而避免触发更严格的审查标准和更广泛的公众监督1。
在北卡罗来纳州，亚马逊和杜克能源计划为一座超大规模数据中心安装649台柴油发电机，并分别提交两份许可证1。该项目预计每年排放约250吨氮氧化物、一氧化碳和挥发性有机化合物，以及98吨颗粒物和6.4吨危险空气污染物（包括苯和甲醛）1。在马里兰州弗雷德里克，四个数据中心在同一校园内持有单独的小许可证，其中包括亚马逊的设施1。在新墨西哥州，Project Jupiter项目开发商提议建设两个独立的天然气"微网"，拟排放的危险空气污染物分别为20.2至24.2吨/年，合计高达44吨，远超联邦规定的每年25吨"小"源限制1。该项目开发商于4月撤回申请，面临社区的强烈反对1。
美国环保署前退休官员迈克尔·科尔伯指出，"他们想隐避雷达。注意力越多，获得许可证就越难"1。亚马逊则声明称，公司"适当申请并获得了数据中心项目的空气许可证"，并表示分别许可反映了"实际所有权和运营结构"1。
Environmental advocates have alleged that technology companies and energy developers are evading the Environmental Protection Agency's stringent review process for major pollution sources by fragmenting emissions across multiple smaller permits.1 The strategy allows facilities to avoid triggering federal requirements for heightened public scrutiny and pollution control measures.
In North Carolina, Amazon and Duke Energy plan to install 649 diesel generators to support a hyperscale data center, submitting two separate permits to sidestep major source review.1 The facility is projected to emit approximately 250 tons annually of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds, along with about 98 tons of particulate matter and 6.4 tons of hazardous air pollutants including benzene and formaldehyde.1 Similarly, in New Mexico, the Project Jupiter development proposed two distinct natural gas "microgrids" with separate permit applications despite combined hazardous air pollutant emissions ranging from 20.2 to 24.2 tons per year—potentially totaling 44 tons when counted together—well above the federal threshold of 25 tons annually for small sources in this category.1 This approach reduces public oversight, accelerates permit approval timelines, and may lower compliance costs for operators.
Michael Koerber, a retired EPA official, characterized the tactic bluntly: "They want to fly under the radar. The more attention, the harder it is to get a permit."1 Additional examples include four data centers on a single campus in Frederick, Maryland, each holding separate small permits, including Amazon-operated facilities.1 The New Mexico project developer withdrew its application in April following intense community opposition.1 Amazon stated that the company "properly applied for and received air permits for its data center projects," asserting that separate permitting reflected "actual ownership and operational structures."1
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