The bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by introducing a new subpart titled "Permit Processing Generally," which establishes definitions and procedures for the permit application process. It clarifies that the term "department" refers to the entity authorized to approve or deny permits, rather than specifically the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill sets a timeline for processing applications, including deadlines for administrative completeness and decisions on approval or denial. Additionally, if the department fails to meet these deadlines, it is required to compensate applicants with a percentage of their application fee. An annual report from the director will detail the number of applications received, approved, denied, and average processing times.

Moreover, the bill creates a new subpart focused on "Overburdened Communities," defining terms related to environmental justice and requiring that permit applications for facilities in these areas include an environmental justice impact assessment. It mandates public hearings in the community to ensure transparency and public participation. The department cannot consider a permit application complete unless specific requirements, including the impact assessment and public hearing, are met. If a permit application is deemed discriminatory, it can only be approved under strict conditions. The bill also establishes a fee structure for permit applications to support these new requirements and repeals certain sections of the existing act, reflecting a significant shift in addressing environmental justice for overburdened communities.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 324.1301, 324.1313, 324.1317