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Committee rejects proposal to cut DEQ groundwater engineer FTE; members warn of permitting delays

Appropriations Committee · January 13, 2026

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Summary

A motion to cut $259,413 and one FTE from Department of Environmental Quality groundwater staffing failed after members warned the reduction could slow permit processing and risk losing state primacy over permitting to EPA.

The Appropriations Committee considered several adjustments to the Department of Environmental Quality’s budget, including a contested proposal to reduce funding for a groundwater engineer.

Representative Pendergraft moved to reduce the governor’s recommendation by $259,413 and eliminate one FTE for a new groundwater engineer position. Senator Driscoll opposed the change, calling it “a pretty foolhardy reduction,” and Representative Sherwood warned that losing staff could lengthen permitting timelines and risk state primacy, saying agency permits take 8 to 10 months with adequate staff but could take 2 to 5 years under EPA control.

After debate the motion failed and the committee retained the governor’s recommendation for that position. Other technical adjustments and smaller reductions in the agency budget did pass, including a $75,000 reduction tied to a withdrawn priority request.

Committee members emphasized the tradeoff between short‑term savings and potential long‑term costs to business and project timelines if permitting capacity is reduced.