Montana signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday morning with the Trump administration to streamline federal and state permitting and enroll in the FAST-41 process.
FAST-41 allows Montana to identify priority projects for federal permitting support from the Permitting Council. Officials said the process is intended to improve transparency and prevent unnecessarily lengthy reviews.
Federal Support
The Permitting Council will help Montana identify projects eligible for FAST-41 and determine gaps in federal knowledge. It will also create opportunities for state officials to share expertise with federal agencies.
The council plans to convene state and federal agencies for coordinated reviews, with the goal of avoiding duplicative work. It will also explore improvements to Montana’s permitting processes, including possible funding and access to technology intended to streamline permit applications.