NJ environmental chief defends budget cuts, as state seeks to speed permitting

The NJ Department of Environmental Protection will lose millions in Gov. Mikie Sherrill's budget plan, but its new chief remains hopeful.

By: Dana DiFilippo

Outlets: New Jersey Monitor

Published: April 22, 2026

Words: 922

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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Legislators applauded new state funding intended to speed up New Jersey’s poky pace in approving environmental permits but fretted over flatlined or slashed funding on other environmental initiatives during a budget hearing Tuesday at the Statehouse in Trenton.

Ed Potosnak, acting commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, said it takes officials 18 months, on average, to approve just the first step in the permitting process for anyone who wants to develop …

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