PRINTER'S NO. 3253
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
468
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY STRUZZI, CAUSER, ECKER, GROVE, HAMM, JAMES,
JOZWIAK, KEPHART, MARCELL, MENTZER, MOUL, OBERLANDER,
PICKETT, ROWE, SCHMITT, SMITH, STENDER, TWARDZIK AND
ZIMMERMAN, JUNE 5, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
JUNE 5, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a study to comprehensively review all the permits
issued by the Department of Environmental Protection,
including the authority of the Department of Environmental
Protection, and issue a report of findings and
recommendations.
WHEREAS, The mission of the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) is to protect this Commonwealth's air, land and
water from pollution and to provide for the health and safety of
the residents of this Commonwealth through a cleaner
environment; and
WHEREAS, In carrying out its mission, DEP must work with
individuals, organizations and businesses to ensure that they
are partners, following regulations and preserving our
Commonwealth's most precious resources; and
WHEREAS, One of the many administrative functions of DEP is
to issue permits, licenses and certifications; and
WHEREAS, In 2018, DEP announced a comprehensive permitting
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reform initiative that was to reduce permit backlogs, modernize
permitting processes and better utilize technology to improve
both oversight and efficiency; and
WHEREAS, In a recent DEP budget hearing, the Secretary of
Environmental Protection was asked to provide the committee with
an updated list of permits issued by DEP and their statutory
authority; and
WHEREAS, DEP provided the Appropriations Committee of the
House of Representatives with a response dated March 15, 2024,
stating that DEP issued 800 permits; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study to
comprehensively review all the permits, including all types of
authorizations, approvals, licenses and certifications, issued
by the Department of Environmental Protection, including the
authority of the Department of Environmental Protection, and
issue a report of its findings and recommendations; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the study include:
(1) a list of each permit issued by DEP, including the
initial date of issuance of the permit, and the applicable
statutory reference for DEP's authority;
(2) a review of each permit issued by DEP, including the
identification of any overlapping, inconsistent or antiquated
permits;
(3) a review of which permits are explicitly required by
Federal law or regulation and an analysis of permits that go
beyond what is required by Federal law or regulation or are
not required by the Federal Government;
(4) a review of permit utilization and implementation of
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DEP permits, over a full calendar year review shall include:
(i) the number of each permit application by type,
including whether the process involved electronic or
paper filing;
(ii) the maximum and minimum wait times for approval
of each permit; and
(iii) the number of permits necessary per applicant;
(5) an analysis and comparison of environmental
protection permits from other states, to identify best
practices or provide suggestions for improving on program
performance while preserving and maintaining DEP's mission;
and
(6) an analysis and comparison of total and individual
resources and workloads for the permitting programs and all
offices charged with administration of the programs;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
use other studies and existing resources that may assist in
completing the study; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the report be submitted to:
(1) the chair and minority chair of the Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate; and
(2) the chair and minority chair of the Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee of the House of
Representatives;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
provide a report of its findings and recommendations not later
than one year after the adoption of this resolution.
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