Last November, the Sun-Gazette reported Williamsport was the seventh fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States for 2010, and had experienced the highest rate of growth in all of Pennsylvania. Lycoming County's outdoor amenities coupled with ever-improving infrastructure such as rail, roads, water and sewer, then matched with opportunities from Marcellus Shale development, make our county one of the most attractive places to start a business, find employment and raise a family.
That being said, we need to make sure growth happens responsibly. Part of that mission involves securing environmental permits from the Department of Environmental Protection. Williamsport, along with all the other municipalities and authorities within the county, will. From time to time, need permits from DEP for projects such as public water supply expansion, sewage treatment plant modifications, road and bridge improvements, and perhaps new industrial or residential site development.
It has never been easy to get a timely answer or permit from DEP in part because the agency's permit review staff has been tied up dealing with poorly prepared or incomplete applications. Recently, Gov. Corbett through an Executive Order implemented a "Permit Decision Guarantee" program that will, in addition to making permit reviews more efficient, ask those seeking permits have their applications in order before coming to DEP.
We have seen a boom in growth here in Lycoming County in recent years as companies expand or locate here. I applaud Gov. Corbett, DEP Secretary Krancer and the staff at DEP for trying a new approach to assure local governments, like Lycoming County, receive timely responses on their permit applications. This one exercise in good government will help the County of Lycoming continue its reputation as the County of choice for business and families to locate.
Jeff Wheeland
Chairman
Lycoming County Commissioners
