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ARTICLE · 25 MARCH 2011

New Minnesota Governor Directs Agencies To Accelerate And Simplify Environmental Permitting

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New Minnesota Governor, Mark Dayton, issued an executive order on Jan. 24, 2011 requiring environmental review and permitting to be accelerated and simplified.

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Barnes & Thornburg LLP’S Environmental Law Department
Barnes & Thornburg LLP’S Environmental Law Department
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New Minnesota Governor, Mark Dayton, issued an executive order on Jan. 24, 2011 requiring environmental review and permitting to be accelerated and simplified. Executive Order No. 11-04 establishes two timing goals for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and two permit process review requirements for the PCA.

In order to accelerate the permitting process, the first of the two timing goals requires that the agencies decide whether to issue an environmental or natural resources permit within 150 days of determining that a permit application is complete. The PCA and DNR Commissioners are to submit a progress report on meeting the goal and any administrative recommendations to reduce decision times to the Governor by July 24, 2011.

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