Public Lands Accountability Act

The Public Lands Accountability Act requires the Bureau of Land Management to conduct full environmental impact statements for any hyperscale data centers built on public lands, prohibiting the use of categorical exclusions that would normally allow for faster approval. The bill defines these facilities as large commercial sites with a peak power load of at least 50 megawatts and mandates that their environmental reviews include specific analyses of water consumption, cooling system usage, and long-term effects on regional water supplies and drought resilience. Additionally, the legislation requires applicants to submit detailed workforce plans outlining expected construction and permanent job numbers, local hiring rates, and whether workers will receive prevailing wages.