“Since taking office, we’ve made it a priority to remove the bureaucratic red tape that ties up innovation and opportunity,” Governor Greg Gianforte declared in Philipsburg.
Montana is officially partnering with the federal government to overhaul how critical infrastructure projects move through environmental reviews. Governor Gianforte joined Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council Executive Director Emily Domenech to sign a memorandum of understanding, opting Montana into the FAST-41 federal permitting process.
Cutting Review Times for Critical Minerals and Energy
The agreement aims to establish transparent timelines for state-level permits alongside existing federal reviews, targeting the drawn-out approval cycles that often delay large-scale industrial and energy developments. The state government announced the partnership following a site tour of a local tungsten mine in Philipsburg.
Working with the Trump administration, Montana is the eleventh state to opt into the FAST-41 process to ensure efficient state and federal permitting for the infrastructure needed to power our future. Great to sign the MOU today in Philipsburg with @PermitCouncil. pic.twitter.com/gGzXCwbrWC
According to data shared during the announcement, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council has helped cut the average duration of federal permitting reviews from 1,500 days down to 400 days.
“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,” Governor Gianforte said.
Supporters maintain that streamlining these procedures will fortify domestic supply chains for essential minerals and support high-paying jobs across the state. Under the terms of the memorandum, the Permitting Council will offer technical assistance, technology access, and direct coordination between state and federal agencies to eligible projects.
Broadening a National Permitting Framework
Montana joins a growing roster of states entering into coordinated infrastructure agreements. The FAST-41 framework, originally established under federal statute in 2015, allows state authorities to plug into centralized project tracking and specialized federal agency support.
With this latest signing, Montana becomes the eleventh state to enter into a formal federal-state memorandum of understanding with the Permitting Council. Previous agreements have been adopted in Alaska, Idaho, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, Louisiana, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, and Wyoming.
Executive Director @ehdomenech and Montana @govgianforte just signed a federal-state MOU, committing to coordinate and streamline federal and state permitting and move critical infrastructure projects forward across Big Sky Country. https://t.co/uPJ3Thkory pic.twitter.com/FVQtziNPVs
A signed copy of the agreement can be accessed through the official state documentation.
