EGLE officials defend permitting and enforcement decisions, acknowledge communication and staffing challenges at House Oversight hearing

Chief Deputy Director Aaron Keatley and legislative liaison Sydney Hart appeared before the House Committee on Oversight to respond to concerns raised at prior hearings about permitting, enforcement, and permitting-related communications.

Keatley said EGLE "does not operate based on philosophical preference" and that the agency's work "is directed and defined by law," describing permitting, compliance, remediation and enforcement as statutory responsibilities. He told committee members that many regulatory decisions reflect federal delegation requirements, and that failing to meet those standards would risk losing delegation and federal funding.

The session covered a range of operational issues raised by members and public testimony at earlier hearings. Keatley said EGLE has reduced some permit backlogs, expanded electronic application processes, and added staff funded by recent budgets, but that progress has been slowed by waves of retirements that reduced institutional expertise.…