Governor Mike Dunleavy today announced that the State of Alaska has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council to improve coordination and transparency in permitting major infrastructure projects across the state. The MOU is the product of conversations initiated at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference and is the first state-level agreement between the Permitting Council and any state.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), which provides federal permitting assistance to qualifying infrastructure projects. By entering into this MOU, Alaska will work directly with the Permitting Council to identify projects that could benefit from FAST-41’s streamlined federal review process, greater transparency, and predictable timelines.
“This agreement is another step toward unlocking Alaska’s full potential,” said Governor Dunleavy. “For too long, federal bureaucracy has delayed responsible resource and infrastructure development within our state. With this agreement, Alaska will have a seat at the table to ensure that federal agencies work hand in hand with the State to deliver timely and transparent permitting decisions.”
“I’m excited to announce that the great State of Alaska is the first state to partner with the Permitting Council, ensuring that the abundance of energy and infrastructure projects in the state can access streamlined permitting,” said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director. “Our team is ready to work with Governor Dunleavy to bring Alaska back into the energy spotlight, ending the neglect of the Biden Administration and bringing Alaska’s incredible natural resources to the rest of the world.”
Under the MOU, the Office of Project Management and Permitting within the Alaska Department of Natural Resources will coordinate directly with the Permitting Council to identify eligible projects, engage project sponsors, and share state regulatory expertise. In turn, the Permitting Council will provide technical assistance, coordinate federal reviews, and ensure project timelines are tracked and visible on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.
FAST-41 coverage applies to a broad range of infrastructure sectors, including energy, mining, transportation, broadband, manufacturing, advanced technology projects and others. This agreement also allows Alaska to pursue “transparency projects,” which will have their permitting scheduled and public engagement opportunities posted online for greater accountability.
“Alaska is heavily reliant on cooperation with the federal government and its agencies. The FAST-41 process is critical to shorten timelines and add certainty to permitting,” Dunleavy said. “This MOU is the result of great working relationships with the federal government and will help deliver what Alaska was promised at statehood. It is in line with President Trump’s vision for resource development across the country and especially in Alaska, and in line with what voters hope to see.”
For more information about FAST-41 and the Federal Permitting Dashboard, visit permitting.gov.
Click here to view the MOU.
