‘Three Strikes’ Policy Helps EPA Cut Permit Backlog 40 Percent

A new “three strikes” policy has helped the EPA cut by 40 percent its backlog of air, water, and waste permit applications that are six months old or more, a top agency official said April 8.

“There is still more to do,” Henry Darwin, the agency’s acting deputy administrator, said. He spoke at a gathering of state environmental officials at the Environmental Council of the States spring meeting.

He attributed the agency’s success in chipping away at the backlog over the last 10 months in part to the policy, aimed at fulfilling the Trump administration’s pledge in ...