Consolidated Environmental Permitting and Evaluations

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

A key function of the Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) is to regulate activities that have a potential or actual impact on environmental resources and public health countywide, and in accordance with County, Federal, and State legislation. One way this was accomplished was through the use of permits, inspections, and enforcement actions, as necessary. As a strategic planning initiative identified in 2006, DERM consolidated sixteen different environmental and support programs to bring a streamlined approach to permits, inspections, and enforcement. By approaching this as one process, the department has already realized savings of approximately $1.4 million in operating and capital costs; increased revenues by approximately $550,000; examined and redesigned programs; developed and administered a robust training program; and developed positions better equipped for succession planning. Service has been improved through decreasing the response times for environmental emergencies and complaints and increasing inspections productivity.