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Minnesota Legislature OKs permit efficiency bill

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Mar 29, 2012 at 5:36 pm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Legislature has sent Gov. Mark Dayton a measure aimed at speeding up the environmental permitting process for businesses.

The bill passed Thursday with bipartisan support. It was approved 50-16 in the Senate and 92-36 in the House.

Under the bill, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources would have to act on permits within 150 days after applications are submitted. Another provision allows businesses to privately contract the permitting process to businesses with at least 10 years of environmental experience. Critics say this could allow applicants to essentially write their own permits.

Bill sponsor Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen says he expects Dayton will sign the bill. He says members of Dayton's administration worked to finalize the proposal.