TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has launched a new initiative aimed at streamlining permitting and improving government efficiency, officials announced as the Sherrill administration marked its first 100 days.
The program, known as Operation FAST — Facilitated Approvals for Sustainable Transformation — is designed to accelerate project reviews, reduce backlogs and improve responsiveness for residents and businesses while maintaining environmental protections.
Officials said the initiative will focus on modernizing permitting processes, enhancing coordination across departments and expanding staff and technology resources.
“Throughout the first 100 days of my Administration, I’ve been laser-focused on saving New Jerseyans time and money by making government accountable to our residents and businesses,” said Governor Mikie Sherrill. “DEP’s Operation FAST delivers by removing unnecessary hurdles that hurt our businesses, our environment, our economy and our wallets.”
“Protecting our air, water, land and natural resources remains firmly at the core of everything the DEP does,” said DEP Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak. “Operation FAST provides a solid framework that will make agency reviews quicker and more transparent without compromising the environmental standards we expect.”
The initiative includes reorganizing permitting programs, hiring additional staff and upgrading digital systems to allow for more efficient application processing and online submissions. Officials said the DEP plans to invest $4.3 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget to hire nearly 50 additional employees to support the effort.
The program also aims to expedite reviews for clean energy and infrastructure projects, improve coordination among agencies and enhance transparency through updated tracking systems.
State officials said Operation FAST aligns with executive orders focused on reducing costs, improving efficiency and addressing high energy costs by accelerating energy production and grid improvements.
The DEP said it will continue working with stakeholders and the public to identify barriers and implement solutions as part of the initiative.
