Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Emily Domenech, Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to coordinate and streamline federal and state permitting processes.
This agreement commits Iowa to opt into the FAST-41 process, aligning state and federal environmental review timelines. It marks the eighth federal-state MOU signed by the Permitting Council under the Trump Administration, which has utilized the Council's authority to advance critical infrastructure.
Governor Reynolds emphasized Iowa's commitment to efficiency. "Iowa has a proud history of innovation, productivity and government efficiency, delivering measurable improvements by reducing red tape, modernizing processes, and strengthening coordination across agencies," said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. She added that working with the Permitting Council will ensure "timely, transparent permitting decisions that support essential infrastructure and strategic projects."
Emily Domenech highlighted the benefits of the partnership. "Building the infrastructure our nation needs requires federal and state permitting processes that move together on the same timelines," said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director. She noted the agreement will "create greater predictability, reduce unnecessary delays and help deliver the vital infrastructure projects Americans and Iowans depend on."
The MOU also requires state permitting actions to be added to the Federal Permitting Dashboard, enhancing transparency and coordination. The Permitting Council will provide federal permitting support, including identifying eligible FAST-41 projects, offering technical assistance, convening agency meetings, and exploring improvements to state permitting processes.
This agreement follows similar MOUs with Alaska, Idaho, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, Georgia, and Louisiana. The Permitting Council, established by Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41) in 2015, aims to improve the transparency and predictability of federal environmental reviews for certain critical infrastructure projects.