As Minn. Permits Sped Up, Faster Turnaround Sought

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota officials say they've sped up permitting reviews since being instructed to move faster. Now they're determining how to achieve even quicker turnarounds without sacrificing environmental standards.

Gov. Mark Dayton on Wednesday ordered a state environmental board to figure out ways to further untangle complexities in the permitting process. He cast it as a way to make the state more business-friendly.

State officials say they have filled most permits within a 150-day goal set earlier this year. That includes more than 1,300 permits in that time frame from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, or 96 percent of applicants.

MPCA commissioner Paul Aasen says the outliers involve cases requiring complex air quality reviews.

Dayton's new order seeks a report card by next Nov. 15.

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