Marking the 100th day of the Sherrill Administration, the Department of Environmental Protection today launched Operation FAST, a comprehensive effort to make the DEP more efficient and responsive to the public and businesses. This initiative will help make New Jersey more affordable while continuing to implement the state’s high standards for protection of the environment and public health.
Through Operation FAST – Facilitated Approvals for Sustainable Transformation – DEP is implementing concrete, achievable efficiencies that fulfill the Governor’s pledge for more effective government through the Administration’s “Saving You Time & Money Agenda” and her executive orders addressing the state’s affordability crisis.The initiative will implement permitting reforms across the agency, including faster, more efficient reviews of clean energy projects that will help build energy infrastructure and deliver ratepayer relief.“Throughout the first 100 days of my Administration, I’ve been laser-focused on saving New Jerseyans time and money by making government accountable to our residents and businesses,” said Governor Mikie Sherrill. “DEP’s Operation FAST delivers by removing unnecessary hurdles that hurt our businesses, our environment, our economy and our wallets.”
“Protecting our air, water, land and natural resources remains firmly at the core of everything the DEP does,” said DEP Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak. “Operation FAST provides a solid framework that will make agency reviews quicker and more transparent without compromising the environmental standards we expect. ”Operation FAST Objectives Through Operation FAST, the DEP is committed to: Reorganizing key permitting programs by focusing on cross-program collaborations Recruiting and training new staff across permitting programs to advance efficiency. Supercharging the Office of Permitting & Project Navigation to ensure early coordinated consultations on priority projects speed up review times. Supplementing technical staff capacity to accomplish targeted reviews to reduce backlogs. Streamlining review procedures to support faster decisions. Modernizing technology for automated submissions and upgrading dashboard systems for online e-Permitting Implementing robust and expedited coordination for energy projects to help meet electricity generation shortfalls. Increased Staff and IT Infrastructure. To support Operation FAST, the DEP plans to use $4.3 million in the FY27 budget to recruit nearly 50 additional staff across permitting programs and train employees on new efficiency-focused processes to expedite technical reviews and reduce backlogs, all with the goal of providing better customer service. Technology is being upgraded to support electronic submissions and reviews, along with strengthened cross-program collaboration on reviews. Modernizing IT infrastructure will enhance the permitting process, bolster various efficiencies, make it easier for stakeholders to do business with the DEP, and enhance transparency.
This work will include upgrades to the DEP’s software mainframe, the technological backbone of the agency. These upgrades will enable the regulated community to submit recurring forms online, making it easier for the DEP to manage and evaluate the thousands of submissions it receives every year. In addition, the DEP will upgrade its System for Administering Grants Electronically (SAGE) contracting portal and digitize Fish & Wildlife and Parks permits.Together, these improvements will enhance the DEP’s ability to protect our air, water and natural resources, enhance quality of life and better protect public health.Commitment to AffordabilityAs it implements Operation FAST, the DEP is committed to working with the public and all stakeholders better understand the barriers they face and develop solutions and explore innovative opportunities for improvement.Operation FAST directly supports Executive Orders 2 and 5 to reduce costs and delays for residents and businesses in New Jersey by bringing greater accountability and transparency to the State’s permitting and regulatory processes.Executive Order No. 2 declared that high energy costs are an emergency warranting decisive leadership and directs the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and other state agencies including DEP to accelerate electric generation and grid stabilization projects that would increase generation capacity, reduce emissions and improve efficiency.
Executive Order No. 5 requires agencies to submit plans detailing authorities, timelines, processes, fees and recommendations for achieving improvements and development of an online dashboard to track progress.