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Permitting Council Announces Latest Federal-State Agreement to Streamline Permitting
Permitting Council signs Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Utah Governor to coordinate permitting and advance critical infrastructure projects.

Contact Information 
Permitting Council Press Office (media@permitting.gov)

WASHINGTON (May 22, 2026) – Today, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced the latest state MOU to better coordinate state and federal permitting efforts. Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech joined Utah Governor Spencer Cox at the Operation Gigawatt Summit in Park City, Utah for the signing. The agreement brings transparency to the permitting of projects in Utah, with a commitment from the state to opt in to the FAST-41 process and align timelines for state and federal environmental reviews. As part of the agreement, the State of Utah will work with the Permitting Council to identify priority infrastructure projects, enable transparency for state permitting actions, and ensure that state and federal review timelines are aligned to prevent unnecessary delays for critical infrastructure projects. 

“I am thrilled to announce our partnership with Governor Cox and the State of Utah,” said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director. “By aligning state and federal permitting timelines, Utah is establishing a more efficient and transparent permitting process that will drive  investment to the state, speed energy and natural resources development and advance President Trump’s infrastructure and energy dominance agenda.” 

“Utah is a state that builds,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “We know that America’s future depends on our ability to move projects from idea to reality. This agreement will help align state and federal permitting processes so that major projects can move forward with greater transparency, coordination and predictability. We’re proud to work with the Permitting Council to reduce unnecessary delays and help ensure Utah remains a place where big things can get built.”

By aligning state and federal permitting timelines, this MOU will ensure that critical infrastructure projects avoid additional roadblocks after completion of the federal environmental review process, providing a transformative level of coordination and transparency between the federal government and Utah.

The Permitting Council will provide support to projects identified in Utah, ensuring focused technical assistance, transparency, accountability and predictability in the permitting process. A wide variety of federal support will be offered as part of the agreement, including:  

  • Assisting Utah in identifying eligible FAST-41 projects;

  • Engaging with Utah to identify and support gaps in federal knowledge and provide opportunities to share state expertise;

  • Convening meetings with appropriate state and federal agencies to ensure streamlined and coordinated review and to avoid duplicative efforts; and

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

The Trump Administration is the first to use the Permitting Council’s statutorily defined ability to enter into federal-state agreements. This is the fourth federal-state MOU signed by the Permitting Council. Agreements were previously signed with the states of Alaska, Idaho and Tennessee, with additional states to follow. 

About the Permitting Council and FAST-41

Established in 2015 by Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) is a federal agency charged with improving the transparency and predictability of the federal environmental review and authorization process for certain critical infrastructure projects. The Permitting Council is composed of the Permitting Council Executive Director, who serves as the Council Chair; 13 federal agency Council members; and the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Office of the Executive Director coordinates federal environmental reviews and authorizations for projects that seek and qualify for FAST-41 coverage, which are in turn entitled to comprehensive permitting timetables and transparent, collaborative management of those timetables on the Federal Permitting Dashboard. 

Learn more about the Permitting Council at permitting.gov.

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Last Updated: Friday, May 22, 2026