Iowa permit reforms can be a national model
Iowa may be known for its fields of corn and soybeans, but it should also be recognized for something less visible yet just as significant: its quiet leadership in environmental permitting reform. While discussions about regulatory streamlining have become widespread today — indeed Congress just passed one permitting reform bill and is considering further changes — Iowa was well ahead of the curve.
The state’s pioneering reforms began nearly two decades ago and have since inspired process improvements across the United States. At the core of Iowa’s success was the implementation of Lean methodologies at Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in 2003. Lean was originally developed in the manufacturing sector but later adapted to government operations. Its goal is to maximize value while minimizing waste. For the DNR, this meant finding ways to reduce delays, paperwork, and unnecessary steps in the permitting process while maintaining high standards for environmental review.
The results were impressive. Iowa’s DNR reduced the processing time for complex air quality permits from 214 days to 180 days. New Source Review permits, which once took 62 days to process, were streamlined to just six days. The DNR eliminated 16 unnecessary steps and cut down internal handoffs from 18 to four.
The Iowa Environmental Services Division Metrics dashboard has made it easier for businesses and the public to track permit applications across multiple environmental divisions, including air, land, and water. The dashboard serves as a transparency tool and also as a performance monitor, holding the DNR accountable to its goals.
The 2019 rollout of the e-AirPermit system further improved Iowa’s permitting process. By allowing businesses to submit and track their applications online, the system reduced paperwork, expedited processing, and provided a more user-friendly experience. This shift to digital operations represents an important evolution in how governments can improve the permit application and tracking process.
Iowa’s willingness to review and improve its processes, based on performance data and stakeholder feedback, has kept it continually at the forefront of regulatory reform. This proactive approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Iowa’s achievements in this area, and the state has shared its experiences in national workgroups.
Going forward, DNR should leverage its expertise to better understand the financial burden businesses face in navigating and complying with its complex permitting pathways. Legislators could direct the agency to analyze the scope and impact of its permitting regulations, determining which are particularly burdensome for different categories of construction or energy development. For instance, issuance of standard construction permits in the state has averaged between 40 and 60 days over the last year, while the DNR’s goal is 30 days. Speeding up this timing would reduce unnecessary obstacles to economic growth.
Read more at Cedar Rapids Gazette