Wolf outlines reforms for Pennsylvania’s environmental permit process

Jan. 29, 2018
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced plans on Jan. 26 to reform the state’s environmental permit process to reduce application backlogs, modernize processes, and improve oversight and efficiency. Officials from two Pennsylvania oil and gas associations told OGJ on Jan. 29 that they were examining the plan’s potential impacts on their members.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced plans on Jan. 26 to reform the state’s environmental permit process to reduce application backlogs, modernize processes, and improve oversight and efficiency. Officials from two Pennsylvania oil and gas associations told OGJ on Jan. 29 that they were examining the plan’s potential impacts on their members.

Wolf said the action was designed to help the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) meet the goals of its Permit Decision Guarantee while continuing to issue strong permits with strict environmental protections. Wolf’s administration also will increase the number of DEP employees, which has been deeply eroded in past budget cuts, to boost these efforts, he added.

Environmental Sec. Patrick McDonnell and his staff have implemented changes already that have produced remarkable results, the governor said as he outlined the new initiatives. These included:

• Expanding the e-permitting system to include several key development permits, reducing the time spent trading paper.

• Creating an analytics program that helps managers track progress on open permit applications—allowing them to know how long permits have been in the system.

• Releasing review processes and registration practices for key development permits for clarification on what is needed to complete an application and make it easier to apply for these permits.

• Supporting legislation to align the permitting process with the industry involved, such as extending permit terms and allowing multi-well pad permitting.

Wolf noted that since 2006, DEP has assumed increased oversight of oil and gas activities and general air and water programs. Its staff was reduced by 43% during that period, leading to long waiting times for permits and a large applications backlog, he pointed out.

The governor said he will seek $2.5 million in the 2018-19 state budget for DEP, which has reduced the overall permit backlog by more than 6,000 since last summer. One association official said it was not certain how many of these would work on oil and gas matters since the number of DEP inspectors in that area has grown to 220 in recent years.

“He talked about increasing the number of oil and gas inspectors when he ran for governor,” Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA) Pres. Dan Weaver said. “Unfortunately, it coincided with an industry downturn which resulted in several of our members seeing inspectors twice a week.”

Producers who are PIOGA members are looking for regulatory relief, Weaver told OGJ. “The $2.5 million to hire more DEP employees was an important part of the governor’s announcement. Our members were very concerned when some permit applications weren’t processed within a year, let alone 45 days,” Weaver said.

“The state senate included a provision to address this when it discussed the House’s latest severance tax bill, which is sitting idle now. I think what the governor announced [Jan. 26] was a move to get the bill back up and running,” Weaver said.

“We appreciate Gov. Wolf and Secretary McDonnell’s recognition of the importance to establish timely, efficient and consistent permitting standards,” Marcellus Shale Coalition Pres. David Spigelmyer said. “On behalf of our members, we have worked with the administration and general assembly to elevate the impact permit delays and inconsistencies within the department have had on Pennsylvania’s ability to attract capital and retain jobs.”

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].