Citing public opposition, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency rejected a request for a blanket permit for data centers to discharge wastewater and decided to consider each project individually.

In a Tuesday ruling, the state EPA wrote: “After carefully reviewing the significant volume of public comments received on the draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permit for data centers, Ohio EPA has decided not to move forward with finalizing the general permit” that would have allowed data centers to dump wastewater into the state’s waterways.

The EPA decided: “The individual NPDES permit issuance process is the most appropriate path forward at this time. Individual NPDES permits will continue to uphold the same rigorous environmental standards and protections required under state and federal law.”

The state EPA received about 7,000 comments about the blanket permit request.

In its statement, the state EPA wrote: “Public participation is a critical part of the Ohio EPA’s decision-making process and we take feedback seriously.”

Data centers use water for cooling of servers, which generates great heat.

An Oct. 31 proposed draft stated: “It has been determined that a lowering of water quality of various waters of the state associated with granting coverage under this permit is necessary to accommodate important social and economic development in the state of Ohio.”

Ohio has become a popular location for data centers, which has drawn criticism. About 200 of them operate in the state.

A number of communities in the Mahoning Valley have issued moratoriums — or considered them — on data centers because of the amount of electricity and water they use. Among those issuing moratoriums are Boardman, Hubbard Township, Girard, Lordstown, Cortland, Niles, Howland, Bazetta, Vienna and Weathersfield.