Virginia DEQ PEEP Implementation and Permitting Automation

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Client: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Location: Virginia

Challenge

“I want to have a public online platform where anybody can find out where the permit is in the process.”
— Gov. Glenn Youngkin

Permitting reform is a hot topic for many states. To improve government operations transparency and create positive change, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 19 to develop and review state agency regulations. The primary driver for this initiative was to improve transparency, collaboration, and efficiency. The first agency to begin the process was the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), largely due to the volume of permit applications DEQ processes. DEQ partnered with GeoDecisions to help with the development of a new permitting portal that allows complete visibility into the review process for anyone wanting to apply for a permit.

Solution

Prior to the new tool – Permitting Enhancement and Evaluation Platform (PEEP) – the environmental permitting process was long, cumbersome, and lacked transparency in the process. As DEQ Director Mike Rolband explained, “It was a black box for everybody, for the public and the permittee.” GeoDecisions is familiar with DEQ processes, having developed a DEQ stormwater construction general permitting (SWCGP) application, including the application knowledge, data model, related processes, and business rules. Partnering with CapTech — the application vendor that developed the statewide PEEP framework — we implemented the PEEP framework within the original SWCGP application.

SWCGP Application

We built the SWCGP application on the .Net framework utilizing Entity Framework and the DEQ's Comprehensive Environmental Data System (CEDS) Rest application programming interface (API) for data interactions. Data is stored within DEQ’s enterprise Oracle database. We integrated SWCGP workflows with DEQ’s job scheduling engine built on Quartz.Net. The SWCGP application is one of few DEQ permit tracking applications that is externally facing, allowing access for permit applicants and property owners. To enhance the SWCGP application, we performed the following tasks:

  • Defined the PEEP checklist rules and plan actions.

  • Reviewed and confirmed the plan events and target due dates.

  • Defined the notification requirements.

  • Completed the data integration analysis.

  • Reviewed the PEEP architecture.

PEEP Implementation

During implementation, GeoDecisions updated core functionality of the SWCGP application to support the PEEP framework. This included implementing CEDS core events and contacts, modifying SWCGP plan workflows, and modifying the validation managers. The team also: 

  • Added support for checklists within the SWCGP plan module.

  • Produced the functionality to add, edit, and delete core contacts.

  • Created the ability to assign purposes to core contacts.

  • Updated the SWCGP plan workflow to utilize core events.

  • Deprecated SWCGP plan events.

  • Defined the PEEP checklist associated with SWCGP plans.

  • Mapped plan record/events actions and associated validations to checklist outcomes.

  • Updated existing checklist code tables to support SWCGP plans.

  • Configured PEEP notifications for SWCGP plan checklist steps and sub-steps.

  • Completed the data migration process for the PEEP checklist code tables.

  • Exposed SWCGP data to PEEP dashboard to include SWCGP data flows.

Streamlining the Process with GIS

Geographic information systems (GIS) integration streamlined the process. GeoDecisions leveraged the power of GIS to remove manual data queries with Esri® ArcGIS technology. The resulting system automatically collects available spatial information about the site being permitted by querying GIS services. Collecting this information allows DEQ to be proactive and have the information ready for future project use.

 
 
A screenshot of the PEEP dashboard displaying the available search fields, a location map, and search results.

The PEEP dashboard displays SWCGP data.

 
 

DEQ reaped immediate benefits from the PEEP platform and was recognized in several articles, like this one announcing “Virginia launches platform to make environmental permit info public.”

Key Technologies

  • .NET with Entity Framework

  • Oracle

  • .NET MVC

  • Esri ArcGIS Server

  • Quartz.NET

Key Takeaways

  • An online resource with full access for the public to track permit status at any time, including plan review.

  • A fully automated, real-time environmental permit process, supporting a 25% state budget savings.

  • Operational efficiency improvements with better tracking abilities and oversight of statewide permitting.

  • GIS integration for watersheds, water zones, and sensitive coastal areas.