The PennZone

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - PennZone -- Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc. (KCE), a longtime regional leader in civil, municipal, environmental and land-development engineering, announced that it has been approved by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a qualified professional (QP) under the new Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) Program.

"Participating in the SPEED Program is both a chance for KCE to help advance more efficient and effective permitting statewide, and puts us in a position to collaborate even closer with developers and local entities throughout the Commonwealth," said KCE's Vice President Daren Martocci. "We are grateful for our strong and collaborative relations with the DEP, and look forward to supporting high-quality projects in both established and emerging markets."

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The SPEED Program was created in July 2024 to continue the DEP's permit modernization effort to move further and faster in permit processing and keep the state moving at the speed of business. The program enables outside, DEP-approved QPs like KCE to conduct initial reviews of select permit applications for certain environmental permits, including erosion and sediment control, waterway and wetland encroachment, and other critical permits, helping streamline permitting while maintaining DEP oversight.

QPs play a key role in the SPEED Program by conducting the initial technical review of eligible permit applications. At an applicant's request, QPs evaluate applications or Notices of Intent (NOIs), identify and help resolve deficiencies, and prepare a fact sheet or review memo summarizing their recommendation. They also provide draft public-notice language for the Pennsylvania Bulletin and, when appropriate, draft responses to comments and draft permit documents. DEP and county conservation districts retain full oversight, reviewing all QP work, communicating any remaining deficiencies to applicants, and making all final permitting decisions.

With 11 individual QPs on its team, KCE can assist applicants in key permit categories, including municipal infrastructure, commercial and residential developments, water/wastewater projects, land-development plans, and other construction requiring environmental permits.