If you're a contractor or developer, you know the pain: months of waiting, endless paperwork, and stalled projects, all thanks to environmental permitting delays. Every state has its own maze of approvals, often with long backlogs that can bring progress to a halt.

But Pennsylvania is starting to change that.

Every year, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) processes more than 45,000 permit applications, covering everything from oil and gas well permits to air quality reviews, land clearing, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-related drinking water upgrades. Now, as part of a push for smarter, faster government, the DEP is transforming how permits are handled to help businesses save time and money.

The results speak for themselves: In just the first three months of 2025, Pennsylvania slashed its permit backlog by 94%.¹

Permit Tracker: Transparency in Real Time

Launched in January, the DEP’s new online permit tracking portal allows applicants to follow the progress of new DEP permit applications. As soon as a permit is accepted for review, applicants receive an email with a custom tracking link. From there, they can monitor:

• Real-time status updates
• Estimated processing timelines
• Key milestones and deadlines

When a decision is made, applicants are notified immediately with issue and expiration dates included right in the tracker.

SPEED: Faster Reviews, Same Standards

Introduced in July 2024, the SPEED (Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development) Program allows DEP-qualified contractors to conduct preliminary reviews for specific types of permits. These expert reviews help move applications through the system faster without compromising DEP’s oversight or environmental protections.

Eligible permits for the SPEED process include:

• Air Quality Plan Approvals (state-only)
• Earth Disturbance Permits
• Individual Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits
• Dam Safety Permits

PACT: Know What You Need Before You Apply

Another recent time-saving feature is the DEP PACT (Permit Application Consultation Tool)—a pre-application tool that helps applicants figure out which permits or authorizations they’ll need before they even start the process.

Users are then encouraged to schedule a pre-application meeting with an Assistant Regional Director. This step helps address any questions and prevents surprises later in the process.

A Faster Process, Quicker Results

For Pennsylvania businesses and residents, these new innovations mean more predictability, less downtime, and faster progress on everything from infrastructure to energy and housing projects.

While permitting headaches continue to frustrate developers across the country, Pennsylvania’s approach could serve as a national model for balancing efficiency with strong standards. Its success, already visible in cities like Pittsburgh, Scranton, and Philadelphia, could inspire similar programs nationwide, even at the federal level.

Need Help Navigating Permits in Pennsylvania or Beyond?

At BBJ Group, we’ve spent decades helping clients across the U.S. tackle environmental permitting challenges. Whether you're dealing with legacy processes or trying to make sense of new tools like SPEED or PACT, we can help you cut through the red tape.

Check out our EHS Compliance page to see how we can take the headache out of your permitting process.

1) https://pagetsitdone.com/news/reduced-wait-times-for-permits-and-licenses-help-pa-win-amazon-i