The PA Chamber welcomed employers in person and virtually last week for its fall DEP Quarterly meeting, a valuable members-only forum that brings together business leaders, policymakers, and agency officials to discuss pressing regulatory issues and policy developments impacting employers across the Commonwealth.

Following opening remarks from PA Chamber Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Alex Halper and Environmental Policy Council Chair Andy Bockis, attendees heard updates from DEP leadership and a key state legislator on permitting modernization, environmental policy initiatives, and opportunities for stakeholder engagement.

DEP Deputy Secretary for Field Operations John Ryder provided an update on the department’s Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) program, which allows applicants to utilize qualified third-party reviewers to expedite certain permit reviews.

Ryder noted that DEP anticipated a higher volume of permit applications through the program and remains encouraged by its early successes.

“We’re excited about our successes in getting permits through rather quickly, and we look forward to more business,” Ryder said, noting that the department has now been operating the program for more than a year.

He also highlighted DEP’s ongoing modernization efforts, including improvements to data management systems and internal processes. Ryder emphasized the department’s commitment to handling projects that generate significant public interest, noting that much of that work involves effectively managing and categorizing public comments to ensure transparency and responsiveness.

Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), Senate Majority Caucus Chairwoman, discussed her ongoing bipartisan work with the Shapiro Administration to advance permitting reform and improve Pennsylvania’s business climate.

Phillips-Hill highlighted recent reforms that allow businesses to use approved third-party entities to accelerate the review of Chapter 102, Chapter 105, and NPDES permits, helping to reduce permitting timelines while maintaining environmental protections.

She credited DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley and department leadership for their collaborative approach to reform efforts and emphasized the importance of continuing to achieve bipartisan policy victories that strengthen Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness.

The senator also encouraged attendees to communicate regularly with elected officials about permitting challenges and other regulatory concerns.

“The only way we know how to fix problems is to hear directly from those experiencing them,” Phillips-Hill said.

DEP Deputy Secretary for the Office of Water Programs Jill Whitcomb encouraged businesses and stakeholders to engage in an ongoing public comment period regarding draft permit requirements for small construction projects between one and five acres.

Whitcomb emphasized the value of early stakeholder engagement, noting that policy development processes are most effective when impacted parties provide feedback from the beginning.

She also discussed DEP’s ongoing work surrounding PFAS and biosolids management. In 2025, the department convened a broad group of stakeholders, including water and waste program leaders, Penn State researchers, and representatives from the Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Association, to better understand emerging concerns and potential policy responses.

Among proposed updates, DEP is considering additional PFAS notification requirements within draft general permits. Whitcomb noted that the proposal has generated significant public interest, with more than 500 comments submitted during the public comment period.

The PA Chamber’s free, members-only DEP Quarterly meetings provide an important opportunity for businesses to engage directly with key regulators and executive staff on regulatory issues, legislation, policy decisions, and department initiatives that affect day-to-day operations across Pennsylvania.

The PA Chamber extends its sincere appreciation to the sponsors whose year-round support makes DEP Quarterly possible: Gold Sponsors Eckert Seamans and Bentley Systems.