Streamlining Effort Improves Efficiency, Productivity
As the result of a concerted streamlining effort, the Southland's air quality agency has reduced its air pollution permit backlog by 37 percent this year and shortened the time required for businesses to obtain permits.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District's Governing Board received a report today showing that the number of permits processed this year is expected to increase by 50 percent over last year, in spite of an estimated one-third increase in the number of permit applications received during the same period.
"Businesses that need AQMD permits want the fastest possible service," said Barry Wallerstein, AQMD’s executive officer. "We have made this a high priority by putting into practice more than two dozen streamlining measures. The result is that while our permit processing staff has been reduced by 40 percent over the last decade, the number of permits processed by each engineer has almost doubled."
Businesses in AQMD's jurisdiction need a permit from the agency if they have equipment that emits or controls air pollution. AQMD currently permits more than 60,000 pieces of equipment at more than 25,000 businesses, from dry cleaners to oil refineries.
The agency's permit workload grew dramatically in the 1990s with the adoption of several new and complex permit programs and regulations, including AQMD's REgional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM), the federal Title V program for major sources and rules to reduce toxic air pollution.
At the same time, the agency's permit processing staff was reduced by 40 percent due to the regional economic recession in the early- to mid-1990s.
Streamlining measures have included simpler and more user-friendly forms and permits, improved computer systems and a permit tracking system on the Internet. Along with the hiring of 24 temporary engineers this year, the measures have reduced permit engineers' average workload from 152 to 80 open applications, which is considered manageable. Many open applications cannot be processed until a business provides further information, or completes construction or air pollution testing on their equipment.
The report notes that if streamlining measures had not been put in place, the number of open permits would have instead grown by more than 27 percent this year. AQMD implemented its permit streamlining program based on recommendations from its Permit Streamlining Task Force, independent performance audits of the agency and enhancements developed by AQMD staff.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
For more information, see the Board item.
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AQMD Home Page
This page updated: August 17, 2004
URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/Permit streamlining.htm