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DNR seeks public input on permitting Governor requested Natural Resources, Fish and Game and Environmental Conservation to evaluate permitting processes for efficiency Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is asking for public feedback as state resource agencies seek to streamline the permitting process.
The department said in a Sept. 13 statement that comments may be submitted on a Web page: http://dnr.alaska.gov/commis/Priorities/Permitting_Reform.html.
DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan discussed the permitting issue at a press briefing in May. He said the state’s permitting for development projects is complex and challenging. Permitting became a big issue for legislators in the 2011 session when DNR discussed a backlog of some 2,500 permits in the Division of Mining, Land and Water. The Legislature provided $2.7 million in incremental funding to the division to deal with the backlog, monies that allow the division to fill many vacant positions that were unfunded and add six new positions.
Sullivan said in May that a task force headed by DNR Deputy Commissioner Ed Fogels was looking at the permitting system as a whole, not just from DNR’s perspective, to see if the permits, regulations and statutory requirements “continue to make sense” and if there are ways to gain efficiency.”
He said the goal of the task force was to make recommendations to the governor’s office and eventually to the Legislature.
Task force DNR said Sept. 13 that at the request of Gov. Sean Parnell the departments of Natural Resources, Fish and Game and Environmental Conservation are evaluating their permitting processes for efficiency improvements.
The agencies have not begun a formal comment period as they have not yet proposed any revisions to statutes or regulations and are planning to host a series of public forums throughout the state this fall to gather additional public input.
The meeting schedule will be posted on the Web page.
Areas for public comment requested on the website include:
• Large projects: The state has a process for coordinating permitting of large projects and is asking how it can be improved.
• Small projects within coastal zones: These were formerly coordinated by DNR’s Division of Coastal Management under the Alaska Coastal Management Program. Since that division and program no longer exist, the state is asking for comments on what role the state should play in coordinating permits for smaller projects.
• Federal permitting: Many project delays are the result of the federal permitting process and the state is asking for comments on what the state can do to help federal agencies be more timely and predictable.
• Legal challenges: Almost all large projects are challenged in court or administratively and the state is asking what it should do to streamline the process to avoid delays while ensuring full access to the appeals process.
• Permit backlog: DNR said it is taking action to eliminate its backlog of permits and authorizations for smaller projects and is asking for additional ideas on how to reduce this backlog and prevent new ones from developing.
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