Pennsylvania Establishes Erosion and Sediment Control Permit and Review Deadlines

Original title: An Act providing for an erosion and sediment control permit, for compliance, for annual report and for duties of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Last action · March 11, 2025: Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION, March 11, 2025Sponsors: Dave Zimmerman and 13 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

What This Bill Would Do

Pennsylvania House Bill 873 establishes a new erosion and sediment control permit requirement for earth disturbance activities not covered by the , setting strict review deadlines of 45 days for standard applications and 20 days for those submitted by a licensed engineer.

Why it matters

Property owners and developers undertaking earth disturbance activities must secure a state permit before beginning work, while the Department of Environmental Protection faces mandatory processing timelines and annual reporting obligations to the General Assembly.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Persons proposing earth disturbance activities

They must obtain a new erosion and sediment control permit prior to commencing earth disturbance activities if not covered by federal NPDES requirements.

Directly affected

Licensed engineers

Applications submitted by licensed engineers benefit from an expedited 20-day approval window.

Directly affected

Department of Environmental Protection

The department must process permits within strict deadlines, issue written denials within five days, and compile a detailed annual report for the General Assembly.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who must obtain the new erosion and sediment control permit?

Any person proposing an earth disturbance activity regulated by 25 Pa. Code Ch. 102 must obtain a permit, except for projects already subject to requirements.

How long does the department have to review a standard permit application?

The department or a delegated conservation district must issue a permit within 45 days of submission unless the application is or fails to comply with regulations.

Are applications submitted by licensed engineers processed faster?

Yes. A permit application submitted by a licensed engineer must be approved within 20 days of receipt.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

1 action

Mar 11, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION, March 11, 2025

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →