Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has unfortunately become known as an agency that moves too slowly and without transparency as it comes to their permitting review and approval process.  These delays can have substantial impacts on our business community in Pennsylvania and can have the effect of driving investment to other states.
 
While the General Assembly has achieved several key reforms in the last few budgets, including transparency measures and third party review for certain permits, there is certainly more work to be done.  Both DEP and the regulated community would benefit from having a neutral entity housed within DEP to help both sides communicate better and be a resource to streamline processes.  My legislation would do this by creating a permit ombudsman within DEP, to be appointed by the General Assembly. 
 
The permit ombudsman would be tasked with serving as a resource to help permit applicants navigate the DEP permitting process, so that applicants would be sure to receive a timely answer to necessary questions to get their permit review moving along.  Further, the ombudsman will be tasked with analyzing choke points in the permitting process and providing regular advice to DEP to help them streamline any identified inefficiencies. 
 
The permit ombudsman will also issue regular reports to the General Assembly and Governor regarding permitting challenges and possible solutions at the agency, so that all parties can work together to make any changes necessary to improve the process.  The ombudsman will not have the authority to issue permits or force DEP to do so, meaning that all environmental protections will be maintained.  Please join me in sponsoring this important legislation to allow Pennsylvania’s state functions to operate more efficiently.