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Published: November 2, 2026 |
The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) Executive Director Emily Domenech signed the latest federal-state memorandum of understanding (MOU) to streamline permitting. Director Domenech joined Montana Governor Greg Gianforte at the Contact Mining Custom Mill in Philipsburg, Montana for the signing. The agreement formalizes a partnership between the Permitting Council and the state of Montana to align federal and state permitting actions so projects across the state can move forward without unnecessary delay.
“Montana’s natural resources make it a leader in producing the critical minerals and energy our country needs for economic growth and national security.” said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director.
“This agreement aligns state and federal permitting so critical projects move forward efficiently and transparently, ensuring we can work together to responsibly develop these resources. I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with Governor Gianforte to strengthen Montana’s economy, create good-paying jobs for Montanans, and power the nation,” added Domenech.
“Since taking office, we’ve made it a priority to remove the bureaucratic red tape that ties up innovation and opportunity. Working with the Trump administration, Montana is proud to be the eleventh state to opt into the FAST-41process to ensure efficient permitting for the infrastructure needed to power our future,” said Gov. Greg Gianforte.
“By tracking state permitting timelines alongside federal requirements, this MOU will ensure that critical infrastructure projects avoid unnecessary roadblocks after completion of federal and state environmental review processes. This is especially important for energy infrastructure. The ability to mine and mill in the treasure state strengthens the global supply chain and creates good, high-paying jobs right here in Montana,” added Gianforte.
Under the agreement, Montana and the Permitting Council will complete state and federal reviews at the same time, and state permits will be tracked on the federal permitting dashboard alongside federal ones.
The Permitting Council signed its first federal-state agreement with the state of Alaska last year, followed by Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming. While the agreements vary based on the state, most include the alignment of federal and state permitting actions, in addition to the Permitting Council providing federal permitting support to identified projects, focused technical assistance, transparency, accountability and predictability in the permitting process.
The Permitting Council provides a wide variety of support to states, including:
• Helping the state determine FAST-41 eligibility and identify suitable projects
• Identifying gaps in federal knowledge and experience where the state’s expertise can inform reviews
• Exploring ways to improve state permitting processes, including funding and access to technology that
streamlines permit applications
• Attending and convening meetings with relevant state and federal agencies to coordinate review and avoid
duplicated effort
The Trump administration is the first administration to use the Permitting Council’s statutorily defined ability to enter into state-wide agreements to advance infrastructure critical to economic growth and national security.
Established in 2015 by Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) is a federal agency charged with improving the transparency and predictability of the federal environmental review and authorization process for certain critical infrastructure projects. The Permitting Council is composed of the Permitting Council Executive Director, who serves as the Council Chair; 13 federal agency Council members; and the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The office of the executive director coordinates federal environmental reviews and authorizations for projects that seek and qualify for FAST-41 coverage, which are in turn entitled to comprehensive permitting timetables and transparent, collaborative management of those timetables on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.
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