“DEP is moving at the speed of business, providing certainty for applicants, and protecting Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water. Eliminating the permit backlog has been a top priority, and it is thanks to the hard work and dedication of DEP staff we are able to celebrate this accomplishment,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “We are working with partners in our communities, in the legislature, and in the business community to find ways to better serve the people, economy, and environment of Pennsylvania.”
During the first nine months of 2025, DEP also reviewed and acted on 30,430 permit applications and conducted 88,799 inspections of regulated facilities to ensure compliance with environmental laws.
40,978 of those inspections are from the Oil and Gas Program.
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 air emissions stay within air quality standards, drinking water remains safe, and rivers and streams are protected from pollution.
DEP launched the SPEED program on June 30 for Chapter 102 stormwater management permit applications, and for certain Air Quality Plan Approvals, earth disturbance, dam safety, and individual water obstruction and encroachment permits in August.
There are 5 permits currently under review in the SPEED program.
DEP is modernizing its permitting process by investing in new technology and reviewing processes to identify and eliminate bottlenecks.
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 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 the PAyback program was implemented, DEP has evaluated and decided on more than 76,000 permits without having to refund a single application fee.
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 water systems to remove chemicals like PFAS ‘forever chemicals,’ mining activity, 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.
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.
Related Articles This Week:
-- Environmental Groups, Citizens Request DEP To Hold Public Hearing On The First Title V Air Quality Permit For Tenaska Natural Gas Power Plant In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold Nov. 14 Hearing On Renewal Of An Air Quality Permit For The Coal, Natural Gas-Fired Brunner Island Power Plant In York County [PaEN]
-- DEP Sets Nov. 10 Hearing On Renewal Of Air Quality Permit For Cleveland Cliffs Monessen Coke [Coal] Works In Westmoreland County; Wastewater Plant Permit Renewal Pending [PaEN]
-- DEP Sets 3 Hearings On Air Quality Standards For Plastics Resin Manufacturers Shell Chemical Appalachia, Rohm & Haas Co. Multi Plastics Extrusions [PaEN]
-- DEP Accepting Comments On The Renewal Of An Air Quality Permit For The Wolf Run Energy, LLC Natural Gas Power Plant In Bradford County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Comments Now Being Accepted For An Air Quality Permit For The Hunterstown Power, LLC Peaking Electric Generation Facility In Adams County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Homer City Generation Chapter 105 Permit Covering Permanent Loss Of 441 Feet Of Stream To Develop Part Of A.I. Data Center Campus In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For 77 Emergency Power Generators At The Amazon Data Center In Salem Twp., Luzerne County [PaEN]
-- DEP Proposes To Deny Eureka Resources Water Quality Permit Renewal For Standing Stone Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Facility In Bradford County [PaEN]
[Posted: October 15, 2025] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment