The letter from DHS was the first direct communication the County received from the federal government regarding this proposal. Prior to receiving the letter, rumors circulated online and residents raised questions during the Board of Supervisors’ Jan. 14 meeting. While the letter identifies the property as a processing facility, no other details about its use or timeline have been provided. Hanover County did not request that DHS select this property, was not involved in the selection process and was not consulted by the federal government prior to being notified. This proposal and the subsequent process are not consistent with how land use decisions with potentially significant impacts on the community are typically handled for Hanover residents.