Minnesota Panel Considers Faster Environmental Reviews

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A proposal to speed up environmental reviews and permitting for businesses gets its first legislative hearing on Thursday.

The bill from Rep. Dan Fabian, a Republican from Roseau, is aimed at improving the state's business climate by streamlining regulations.

The legislation would set a goal for state environmental regulators of ruling on permit applications within 150 days.

It would also eliminate a layer of court review on environmental reviews, sending cases directly to the Minnesota Court of Appeals instead of going through the district courts.

Fabian is a first-term lawmaker from northwestern Minnesota. He ran on reducing regulations for business to spur jobs.

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