The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council and the State of Alaska have entered into a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding that sets the stage for faster, more transparent federal permitting for major infrastructure and energy projects across the state.
The agreement, signed Wednesday morning in Anchorage by Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, makes Alaska the first state in the nation to formalize a partnership under the Council’s FAST-41 program. The move is designed to streamline the often lengthy federal permitting process, which has historically slowed development of critical resource and infrastructure projects.
“This agreement is another step toward unlocking Alaska’s full potential,” said Gov. 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.”
Under the MOU, Alaska will receive direct permitting assistance and technical support from the Permitting Council. This includes dedicated staff for each project covered under FAST-41, regular coordination calls, development of a state-specific application template, and customized tools to improve project tracking and management. The agreement also provides for direct engagement with project sponsors, allowing for enhanced communication and accountability throughout the permitting process.
The FAST-41 program, created in 2015, requires federal agencies to follow detailed timetables for covered projects and to publicly track progress through the Federal Permitting Dashboard. Projects in energy, transportation, mining, broadband, manufacturing, and other strategic sectors may qualify for coverage. For Alaska, that could include large-scale efforts such as the Alaska LNG project and Graphite One, both of which were highlighted during Domenech’s visit to the state this week.
The Permitting Council, which consists of representatives from more than a dozen federal agencies along with the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Management and Budget, was established to provide greater certainty for infrastructure developers. By coordinating federal reviews and approvals, the Council aims to reduce delays while maintaining environmental and regulatory standards.
Domenech’s visit also coincided with the Alaska Oil and Gas Association Conference, where she met with industry representatives and state officials to discuss current and future projects that could benefit from the new partnership, and is a keynote speaker.
This first-of-its-kind agreement signals an attempt to bring greater predictability to Alaska’s permitting landscape, a move state leaders hope will accelerate investment and development in sectors central to the state’s economy.