PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP Reduces Permit Backlog By 98%, Has Reviewed Nearly 20,000 Permit Applications So Far This Year

Monday, July 14, 2025

DEP Reduces Permit Backlog By 98%, Has Reviewed Nearly 20,000 Permit Applications So Far This Year

On July 14, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has reviewed and acted on 19,977 permit applications between January 1 and June 30, 2025.

The permit backlog has been reduced by 98% since November 2023, decreasing the backlog from over 2,400 permit applications to fewer than 50.

Three of the six DEP regional offices (Southwest, South Central, and Southeast) have eliminated their permit backlogs entirely.

DEP has also conducted more than 58,000 inspections of regulated facilities to ensure compliance with environmental laws. [Just over 25,534 of the inspections are related to the Oil and Gas Program. Read more here.]

DEP inspections include both scheduled and unscheduled on-site visits to permitted facilities, as well as document reviews to verify compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

These inspections – whether on-site or operational – ensure that air emissions stay within air quality standards, drinking water remains safe, and rivers and streams are protected from pollution.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to getting stuff done – moving our permit reviews at the speed of business without sacrificing environmental protections,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “With new tools like the permit tracker and programs like Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) DEP will continue provide certainty for Pennsylvania businesses and environmental protection for Pennsylvania communities.”

SPEED Permitting

DEP launched the SPEED program on June 30 for Chapter 102 permit applications.

Applications will be accepted later this summer for certain Air Quality Plan Approvals, earth disturbance, dam safety, and individual water obstruction and encroachment permits.

DEP is modernizing its permitting process by investing in new technology and reviewing processes to identify and eliminate bottlenecks.

Permit Tracker

In January, DEP launched a Permit Tracker to allow applicants and residents to monitor the progress of permits as they move through the review process.

Since 2023, DEP has also added 225 employees to carry out critical functions like public health and safety inspections and permit application reviews.

DEP reviews more than 45,000 permit applications every year.

These include permits for land clearing activities for construction projects, air quality permits for factories and power plants, permits to upgrade drinking waters systems to remove chemicals like PFAS, and permits for oil and gas wells.

With more efficient permit review from DEP, businesses in Pennsylvania can put shovels in the ground more quickly while still ensuring their projects meet standards to protect clean air and clean water.

Zero Permit PAyback Refunds

DEP has also implemented the PAyback program, which went into effect in November 2023 that assures a moneyback guarantee for permit applicants if their application is overdue for review by DEP.

Since going into effect, DEP has evaluated and decided on more than 68,000 permits without having to refund a single application fee.

Click Here for the DEP announcement.

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