Local

Georgia EPD Begins Faster Review of Air Quality Permits – For a Fee

July 2nd, 2013

Those wanting a quicker decision on air quality permits can now pay a fee to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

The new process allows those seeking air quality permits to pay a fee from as low as $1,000 up to $40,000 depending on difficulty of the review. In exchange for the fees, regulators will ensure an expedited review of the requests. Eric Cornwell is a manager with the division’s air protection branch.

“Using the expedited permitting process, I think it means that they’re going to be sure that their business plans are not going to be thrown off or delayed by some kind of bureaucratic slowdown, and they will know when to expect the air quality permits that they need.”

For example, Cornwell says a review of a permit for an asphalt plant averages about 60 days.

But now those who pay $2,000 can receive the permit in 45 days or less. The quicker permitting process comes after a law which was passed last year by the Georgia Senate. Supporters said it will aid the cash-strapped agency and ensure businesses will receive permits in a timely manner so their projects can move forward. But environmental watchdog groups were critical, calling it a “pay for play” law.

Procter and Gamble has already paid $25,000 to speed up the review for a permit for a biomass boiler in the state.