State Agency Watch
DENR cuts the red tape for getting an environmental permit

Finally, somebody in state government admits how difficult it is to get an environmental permit -- and is doing something to cut through all the red tape. Just listen to Edythe McKinney, director of the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources' customer service center: 

“We know that customers who need to do business with this department have frequently found it frustrating to determine what environmental permits they need, where to get them and how long it will take. So, we’re offering them a personal touch -- a single entry point where businesses, local governments, consultants and citizens can seek assistance in identifying state and federal environmental requirements that may apply to a proposed project."

McKinney is talking about DENR's 1-STOP permit assistance service that began as a pilot in late July in DENR's Mooresville and Wilmington regional offices and which will be expanded statewide when funds are avilable. 

Here's how it works: In DENR's Mooresville and Wilmington offices, a coordinator guides applicants through the regulatory process, helps them determine the environmental requirements and permits needed for an activity or business, identifies the timeframe for the permitting process, and then helps track the progress of the permits.

Patrick Grogan is the coordinator in DENR’s Mooresville Regional Office, and he can be reached at 704-799-2987, e-mail Patrick.Grogan@ncmail.net; and Eric Imhof is the coordinator in the Wilmington Regional Office, telephone 910-790-2317, e-mail Eric.Imhof@ncmail.net.

The Mooresville Regional Office serves Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties; and the Wilmington Regional Office serves Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow and Pender counties.  Although the permit assistance program began as a pilot program in these two regions, the coordinators will assist customers in other counties. 

DENR also is unveiling a redesigned web site to help environmental permit applicants, www.envhelp.org. There, users can locate permit information by key word, category, subject or DENR division.  Permit applicants also can use the web site to check on the status of a permit application. McKinney noted that there is a comment portal on the web site where customers can offer their ideas and suggestions, plus they can discuss them with the regional coordinators and the CSC staff in Raleigh.

The Customer Service Center, with its toll free line 1-877-623-6748, is already a one-stop information source for the department’s environmental and natural resources programs.

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