Permitting Council Announces Agreement with the State of Nevada to Streamline Permitting

WASHINGTON (August 31, 2026) – Today, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announces the recent signing of the latest federal-state MOU to coordinate and streamline federal and state permitting. Executive Director Domenech joined Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo to sign the formal agreement. This partnership commits the state to opt in to the FAST-41 process and align timelines for state and federal environmental reviews. 

“I am thrilled to enter into this partnership with Governor Lombardo and the State of Nevada,” said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director. “The Permitting Council supports more critical infrastructure projects in Nevada than any state in the country, so it’s no surprise that we are signing this agreement today. By strengthening coordination between federal and state agencies, aligning review timelines and eliminating unnecessary duplication, we can build mining, energy, manufacturing, and transmission projects faster than ever before, providing jobs and economic opportunity across the state.”

“This agreement will help Nevada cut through unnecessary delays, improve coordination with our federal partners, and move critical projects forward,” said Governor of Nevada Joe Lombardo. “By making the permitting process more efficient and predictable, we can support responsible growth, strengthen our economy, and deliver results for Nevadans. I appreciate the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council for its partnership and commitment to helping Nevada move forward.”

The MOU establishes commitments by the State of Nevada and the Permitting Council to align state and federal permitting timelines and to help identify projects for FAST-41 eligibility. The agreement also requires that state permitting actions are added to the Federal Permitting Dashboard alongside the federal permits, providing a first-of-its-kind level of coordination and transparency between the federal and state governments. By aligning state permitting timelines with federal timelines, this MOU will ensure that critical infrastructure projects avoid unnecessary roadblocks after completion of the federal environmental review process.

As part of the agreement, the Permitting Council will provide federal permitting support to projects identified in the State of Nevada, ensuring focused technical assistance, transparency, accountability and predictability in the permitting process. The Permitting Council will provide a wide variety of support, including: 

• Help the state determine FAST-41 eligibility and identify suitable projects; 

• Coordinate with the state to identify and support gaps in federal knowledge and experience that the state can advise upon; 

• Explore opportunities to improve state permitting processes, to include providing funding and access to technology designed to streamline permit applications; and

• Attend and convene meetings with appropriate state and federal agencies to ensure streamlined and coordinated review and avoid duplication of efforts.

This is the 9th federal-state MOU signed by the Permitting Council during the Trump Administration, the first administration to use the Permitting Council’s statutorily defined ability to enter into state-wide agreements to advance infrastructure critical to economic growth and national security. Agreements were previously signed with the states of Alaska, Idaho, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana and Iowa.