Permitting Reform
Source: PA Chamber for Business and Industry
The Shapiro Administration is committed to Getting Stuff Done for Pennsylvania businesses while maintaining the environmental and public health protection that Pennsylvanians expect and deserve.
DEP is modernizing the permit review process to increase certainty for applicants, increase transparency for residents, and increase the quality of permit applications that DEP is receiving. This effort is critical in managing the more than 40,000 permits DEP reviews every year.
Through new systems, upgraded technology, and improved customer service, DEP is Delivering on Every Promise when it comes to environmental protection and permitting.
Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED)
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 and faster in permit processing and keep Pennsylvania moving at the speed of business.
Through SPEED, permit applications for select permits will be able to use DEP-approved 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
- 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. Permit Decision Guarantee and PAyback review timeframes will still apply to SPEED permits.
Qualified Professional Requirements
The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is seeking to engage qualified professionals to review permits on an expedited basis as part of the SPEED Program. Below are the requirements to become a DEP-approved qualified contractor:
- Licensed professional who may be necessary to review applications under the eligible permitting program.
- Has five years of experience of relevant permitting experience in PA.
- Holds all professional licenses as required by law.
- Has not been convicted of or pled guilty to a crime
- Has not had a professional license revoked by the state license board within the previous 10 years.
- Agrees to be responsible for the review costs if the review is deemed inadequate or untimely.
- Has not performed work for the applicant in the last 3 years.
- No other conflicts of interest.
If you're interested in becoming a DEP-approved qualified contractor, please review the invitations for bid (IFB) below:
Individual Water Obstruction and Encroachment
Please continue to check back for any additional updates on the SPEED Program. If you have questions, please reach out to Brian Franklin: bfranklin@pa.gov or calling 717-787-2471
Also, happening in Permitting Reform:
Last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an Executive Order creating the PA Permit Fast Track Program, which aims to streamline the Commonwealth’s permitting process for key economic development and infrastructure projects, increase transparency, and accelerate timelines to ensure state government delivers results quickly and efficiently. It would achieve this mainly through a public-facing online dashboard that tracks permit progress, timelines, and feedback from project sponsors. This helps develop transparency in permitting, along with accountability for all parties.
Get more details about the order from the PA Chamber of Business and Industry.