Cutting Legacy Permit Backlogs
DEEP’s Goal 3 seeks to reduce the number of pending legacy permit applications by 65% by the end of 2026. Legacy permit applications are applications that remain unresolved more than five years beyond estimated permit processing timeframes. Improvements are geared toward maintaining a crucial balance of processing incoming applications to minimize additions to the legacy universe, while addressing older applications. Background on this goal is presented in DEEP’s 20BY26, Setting the Target: CT DEEP 2026 Goals (February 2024).
Latest Progress (as of Spring 2025)
In Q2 2025, DEEP processed six legacy permits, bringing the total percentage of legacy permit applications processed to 74%, continuing to go beyond the goal we set of 65% backlog reduction by 2026. For more information, visit the legacy tracking dashboard.
STATUS OF LEGACY PERMIT APPLICATIONS
Up Next
DEEP will continue to process pending legacy applications, alongside incoming ones.
GOAL 3 PROGRESS FROM PREVIOUS QUARTERS
Winter 2025
On January 1, 2025, DEEP added 96 legacy applications that had not been processed since 2019, bringing the total legacy universe to 603 pre-2020 applications. In Q1 2025, DEEP processed 9 legacy permits, bringing the total percentage of legacy permit applications processed to 73%. LWRD has processed their last remaining legacy application!
Fall 2024
In Q3 2024, DEEP reached 70% of legacy permit applications processed, or 355 of 507 pre-2019 applications. In Q4 2024, DEEP processed 5 more legacy applications, resulting in a 71% reduction for the end of the year. Specifically, WPED's Pretreatment Program has resolved all legacy Significant Industrial User General Permit applications . WPED’s Underground Injection Control and Industrial Water Program resolved 3 legacy applications. WPED brought onboard a new team member in the Industrial Water Permitting Program, meeting the goal of refilling all vacancies in that program by the end of 2025.
Summer 2024
DEEP held steady at 69%, or 352 of 507, legacy permit applications processed. Several programs closely analyzed pending legacy application metrics and discovered trends, indicating an updated permit processing standard operating procedure could resolve many of these older applications. WPED developed a pending applications report to expand its project management toolbox and ensure staff are prioritizing timely disposition. For example, the Pretreatment Program successfully issued 50% of the legacy Significant Industrial User wastewater general permit applications ahead of the target goal.
Winter and Spring 2024
DEEP updated the universe of legacy applications, adding those from 2017 and 2018 for a total of 507. Even with this update, DEEP further reduced the universe of legacy applications from 63% at the start of 2024 to 69%, or 348 of 507 permits.
Content last updated September 2025