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A Framework for Building Efficient Environmental Permitting Processes

Author

Listed:
  • Nicola Ulibarri

    (Department of Planning, Policy and Design, University of California, Irvine, 206B Social Ecology I, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Bruce E. Cain

    (Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega Room 173, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
    Department of Political Science, Stanford University, Encina Hall West Suite 100, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
    Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Newsha K. Ajami

    (Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

Abstract

Despite its importance as a tool for protecting air and water quality, and for mitigating impacts to protected species and ecosystems, the environmental permitting process is widely recognized to be inefficient and marked by delays. This article draws on a literature review and interviews with permitting practitioners to identify factors that contribute to delayed permit decisions. The sociopolitical context, projects that are complex or use novel technology, a fragmented and bureaucratic regulatory regime, serial permit applications and reviews, and applicant and permitting agency knowledge and resources each contribute to permitting inefficiency when they foster uncertainty, increase transaction costs, and allow divergent interests to multiply, yet remain unresolved. We then use the interviews to consider the potential of a collaborative dialogue between permitting agencies and applicants to mitigate these challenges, and argue that collaboration is well positioned to lessen permitting inefficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola Ulibarri & Bruce E. Cain & Newsha K. Ajami, 2017. "A Framework for Building Efficient Environmental Permitting Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:2:p:180-:d:88810
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kahn, Robert D., 2000. "Siting Struggles: The Unique Challenge of Permitting Renewable Energy Power Plants," The Electricity Journal, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 21-33, March.
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    3. Decker, Christopher S, 2003. "Corporate Environmentalism and Environmental Statutory Permitting," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 46(1), pages 103-129, April.
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    5. Leach, William D. & Sabatier, Paul A., 2005. "To Trust an Adversary: Integrating Rational and Psychological Models of Collaborative Policymaking," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 99(4), pages 491-503, November.
    6. Lea-Rachel D. Kosnik, 2006. "Sources of Bureaucratic Delay: A Case Study of FERC Dam Relicensing," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 22(1), pages 258-288, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Batory Agnes & Svensson Sara, 2019. "The fuzzy concept of collaborative governance: A systematic review of the state of the art," Central European Journal of Public Policy, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 28-39, December.
    2. Susskind, Lawrence & Chun, Jungwoo & Gant, Alexander & Hodgkins, Chelsea & Cohen, Jessica & Lohmar, Sarah, 2022. "Sources of opposition to renewable energy projects in the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    3. Tyler Andrew Scott & Nicola Ulibarri & Omar Perez Figueroa, 2020. "NEPA and National Trends in Federal Infrastructure Siting in the United States," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 37(5), pages 605-633, September.

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