From the Star Tribune's Tom Meersman
In his State of the State speech Thursday, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said his administration had cut wait times for permits and said he had already moved to do even more.
"This week," he announced. "I issued additional directives to state agencies that will streamline Minnesota's permitting process and speed things up even further."
A check with state agencies reveals that Pawlenty apparently has not issued any written directives. He did, however, tell Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson to change a government form known as an environmental assessment worksheet.
"It's just been a verbal communication," said Hugoson, who also chairs the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board.
Currently, those who propose a new feedlot or ethanol plant must fill out the same multi-page worksheet, he said. Because questions are general, the review process can require time-consuming questions and answers between businesses and regulators.
Hugoson said Pawlenty asked him to work with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources to tailor the worksheets to specific industries to simplify the process.
