The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has eliminated the historic permit backlog and reviewed and acted on 30,430 permit applications since the beginning of the year.

All 2,402 permits that were overdue and on the clock on Nov. 1, 2023, have been processed.

“DEP is moving at the speed of business, providing certainty for applicants, and protecting Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Eliminating the permit backlog has been a top priority, and it is thanks to the hard work and dedication of DEP staff we are able to celebrate this accomplishment. We are working with partners in our communities, in the legislature, and in the business community to find ways to better serve the people, economy, and environment of Pennsylvania.”

During the first nine months of 2025, DEP also reviewed and acted on 30,430 permit applications and conducted 88,799 inspections of regulated facilities to ensure compliance with environmental laws.

DEP inspections include both scheduled and unscheduled on-site visits to permitted facilities, as well as document reviews to verify compliance with environmental laws and regulations. These inspections — whether on-site or operational — ensure air emissions stay within air quality standards, drinking water remains safe, and rivers and streams are protected from pollution.

DEP is modernizing its permitting process by investing in new technology and reviewing processes to identify and eliminate bottlenecks. In January, DEP launched a Permit Tracker to allow applicants and residents to monitor the progress of permits as they move through the review process. Since 2023, DEP has also added 225 employees to carry out critical functions like public health and safety inspections and permit application reviews.

DEP reviews more than 45,000 permit applications every year. These include permits for land clearing activities for construction projects, air quality permits for factories and power plants, permits to upgrade drinking water systems to remove chemicals like PFAS, mining activity, and permits for oil and gas wells.

With more efficient permit review from DEP, businesses in Pennsylvania can put shovels in the ground more quickly while still ensuring their projects meet standards to protect clean air and clean water.

DEP has also implemented the PAyback program, which went into effect in November 2023 that assures a moneyback guarantee for permit applicants if their application is overdue for review by DEP.

Since the PAyback program was implemented, DEP has evaluated and decided on more than 76,000 permits without having to refund a single application fee.

PGC: State Game Lands 211 expansion celebrated

The Pennsylvania Game Commission this week celebrated the expansion of State Game Lands 211, which has added 509 acres in Dauphin County.

The Nature Conservancy spearheaded this land acquisition and ultimately was able to donate the parcel to the Game Commission earlier this year. This addition will further conserve and protect the forested Second Mountain, located on the Kittatinny Ridge Landscape, which is a globally recognized Important Bird Area, and supports habitat for a number of critical species of wildlife.

“This new portion opens up hundreds of acres that were once landlocked and inaccessible, and connects directly to one of central Pennsylvania’s great treasures,” said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. “State Game Lands 211 is already an incredible resource to the central-Pennsylvania region and this expansion will over serve to bolster that resource.”

State Game Lands 211 is exceptionally popular and highly used, with almost 300,000 people living within a 10-mile radius of the property.

This project was made possible with funding from the Hamer Foundation and Pennsylvania Game Commission, as well as financial assistance from a Community Conservation Partnership Program grant by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

DCNR accepting nominations for Pa. 2026 River of the Year

The nomination period for the 2026 Pennsylvania River of the Year is open, giving organizations across the Commonwealth the opportunity to nominate their favorite waterway for special designation and celebration in 2026.

“Every year, the River of the Year competition shines a spotlight on one of Pennsylvania’s amazing waterways and I am excited for the 2026 competition,” said Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “Our rivers and streams are critical to supporting Pennsylvania’s growing $19 billion outdoor recreation economy. They also hold tremendous environmental value as sources of drinking water, for wildlife habitat, and bringing people together in communities across the state. I am really looking forward to this year’s competition and can’t wait to see which river the public chooses as the 2026 River of the Year.”

The nomination period is open through Friday, Nov. 21, at 5 p.m. Selected nominations will be voted on by the public beginning in late November.

For more information about the River of the Year program, visit the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers’ (POWR) website.

To nominate a river or waterway, visit the Grants and Awards webpage and scroll down to “Apply.”

“POWR is thrilled to announce the opening of the nomination period for the 2026 Pennsylvania River of the Year! This highly anticipated program shines a spotlight on the Commonwealth’s treasured waterways,” said POWR representative Janet Sweeney. “We look forward to another opportunity for Pennsylvanians to support their favorite rivers in a friendly competition across the state.”

Once a river is selected, the local host will organize a year-long series of events and activities to celebrate the river, including the popular River of the Year Sojourn. The nominating organization of the winning river will receive a $15,000 grant to help fund the River of the Year activities.

All Pennsylvania waterways are eligible for nomination, except for the winners from the past five years: 2025 – Delaware River; 2024 – Allegheny River; 2023 – Susquehanna North Branch; 2022 – French Creek; 2021 – Shenango River.

POWR administers the River of the Year program with funding from DCNR.