DEQ warns staffing gaps are slowing permits; seeks targeted pay increases and clarification on remediation and loan funds

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality told the Legislative Budget Committee that turnover and vacancies in technical permitting positions have extended permit timelines and that targeted compensation increases — combined with previously approved cost-of-employee compensation adjustments — are necessary to retain staff and protect state primacy over federal programs.

Director Jess Byrne said the agency has seen significant vacancies in technical permitting programs and that some permit timelines have lengthened substantially. "In February, it took us about 89.1 days on average to issue an air quality permit. We are now closer to a hundred and 60 days on average," Byrne said, summarizing permit-timing trends and the effect of turnover on backlog.

Why it matters: slowed permitting can delay local economic development and infrastructure projects that require air-quality or wastewater permits. Committee members asked for details on the DEQ proposal to raise entry-level pay and provide targeted increases for hard-to-fill roles, and for more information on fund balances tied…