tykundegex opines on possible reasons for delay of simple air permit receipt

NYTimes Article: New York Has Plan to Cut Emissions

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/science/earth/10climate.html?_r=1&hp

It's all good news for P2O, but within this article are links to several others that may shed some light on the permitting delays for JBI (emphasis added by me):

(taken from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/23/nyregion/23grannis.html)

"The turmoil in the staffing and leadership of the [DEC] coincide with an overhaul of its rules"

"they are deeply worried by the shrinking resources of the department"

"Not counting the 209 jobs scheduled to be eliminated from the current level of about 3,100, the department has lost 595 employees over the last two and a half years."

"additional staff was needed to administer permits ... and to enforce department rules"

"the agency, whose responsibilities range from monitoring air and water pollution to selling fishing licenses, had already cut back significantly on services and programs. It is cleaning up fewer petroleum spills, delaying environmental reviews and reducing inspections and enforcement of regulations"

"In many instances, we have offices or sections responsible for important permitting and monitoring functions staffed by only one or two people"

(taken from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/nyregion/22fired.html)

"The agency’s workforce...is at its lowest level in two decades"

Tykün