The bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by introducing a new subpart titled "Permit Processing Generally," which clarifies definitions and procedures for the permit application process. It removes references to the Department of Environmental Quality and establishes a structured timeline for processing applications, including specific timeframes for determining administrative completeness and for approval or denial. The bill mandates that the department notify applicants of any deficiencies and allows for extensions of the processing period upon request. Additionally, it requires the department to submit an annual report on the performance of the permit application process, emphasizing accountability by addressing backlogs if processing deadlines are not met.

Furthermore, the bill introduces another subpart focused on "Overburdened Communities," defining key terms related to environmental justice and requiring the department to publish and update a list of these communities every two years. Any permit application for a facility in an overburdened community must include an environmental justice impact assessment and a public hearing to ensure community engagement. The bill stipulates that a permit application cannot be considered complete without compliance with these requirements, and it allows for the approval of discriminatory permits if they serve a compelling public interest. The department is also tasked with imposing conditions on permits to protect public health and mitigate environmental impacts, while provisions for assessing fees to cover implementation costs are included, along with a mandate for rule promulgation within one year of the bill's effective date.

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