The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported Tuesday that it has eliminated an historic permit backlog by reviewing and acting on more than 30,000 permit applications since the beginning of the year.
All 2,402 permits that were overdue and on the clock as of Nov. 1, 2023, have been processed, the department said Oct. 15.
“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 said it reviewed and acted on a total of 30,430 permit applications and conducted 88,799 inspections of regulated facilities to ensure compliance with environmental laws.
DEP said its inspections included 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, the department said.
On June 30, the DEP formally began accepting applications for the Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) program for a common construction permit.
The first permits available under the SPEED program were Chapter 102 Individual NPDES Permits for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities. DEP previously launched a pilot program to improve and accelerate the review process for these key construction and stormwater discharge permits.
The SPEED program, created by the 2024-2025 budget signed by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, provides additional flexibility to permit applicants by allowing them to choose to have a DEP-verified and qualified professional conduct the initial review of the application. DEP staff review the recommendations of the qualified professional and either make a final permit decision or identify technical deficiencies to the applicant.
The DEP has final authority over all permit decisions. Applicants for those permits will agree to pay any review fees incurred by the qualified professional, in addition to permit application fees.
Additionally, DEP said it is modernizing its permitting process by investing in new technology and reviewing processes to identify and eliminate bottlenecks.
For instance, 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.
Every year, the DEP reviews more than 45,000 permit applications, which include those 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, mining activity, and permits for oil and gas wells.