PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP To Post Information Soon On New SPEED Permit Review Program Enacted As Part Of State Budget

On July 19, the Department of Environmental Protection posted this notice on its Permit Modernization webpage about the new SPEED (Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development) established in the new state budget--

The Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) Program was created in July 2024 to continue the DEP’s Permit Modernization effort to move further, faster in permit processing and keep Pennsylvania moving at the speed of business.

Through SPEED, permit applicants for select permits will be able to use DEP-verified qualified contractors to conduct initial reviews of applications for expedited review.

DEP staff will review recommendations from the qualified contractor and make the decision to approve or deny the permit, or issue a technical deficiency letter to the applicant.

Eligible permit types are:

-- Air Quality plan approvals (state-only) (Chp. 127)

-- Earth disturbance permits (Chp. 102)

-- Individual water obstruction and encroachment permits (Chp. 105)

-- Dam safety permits (Chp. 105)

DEP is coordinating activities across the state to meet the implementation deadline. More information, including approved qualified contractors, will be posted soon. PAyback guidelines will still apply to SPEED permits.

Visit DEP’s Permit Modernization webpage for more information as it becomes available.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog, Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.