Montana Joins Federal FAST-41 Permitting Program
Governor Greg Gianforte signed the state onto the program that streamlines permitting for projects deemed critical to national infrastructure.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Utilities
Live Poll
Should government speed up approval of major mining and energy projects even if public input is reduced?
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed the state onto the federal FAST-41 permitting program in October 2026, making Montana the 11th state to participate. The program aims to streamline permitting for mining, energy, and transportation projects.
Why it matters
FAST-41 aligns state and federal permitting processes so more agencies work in parallel, which is intended to speed approvals for projects considered critical to the nation's infrastructure in Montana. The program also requires projects to make data publicly available.
Montana is the 11th state to join FAST-41, and for some projects the NEPA litigation statute of limitations falls from six years to two. The source does not say which utility or energy projects in Montana will apply for designation.
The players
Greg Gianforte
Greg Gianforte is the Governor of Montana, a Republican who took office in 2021 and has led the state's executive branch.
The details
Under FAST-41, the Federal Permitting Council coordinates agencies to work in parallel on permitting. Projects receiving the designation must still complete mandatory NEPA environmental review, and Montana state agencies will be involved by default from the start of new FAST-41 projects.
Timeline
October 2026: Governor Greg Gianforte signed Montana onto FAST-41.
Industry Landscape
Montana's entry into FAST-41 extends the federal permitting streamlining program to an eleventh state, following earlier participants in the framework. The change targets mining, energy, and transportation permits that the program designates as critical infrastructure.
For Montana residents, faster permitting could affect how quickly new energy and infrastructure projects are approved, though the source does not say which projects or when. Projects still must complete full environmental review, so timelines will depend on individual applications.
The takeaway
Permitting reform changes how fast projects move, but not whether environmental review is required. Watch for Montana agency announcements on which projects receive FAST-41 designation.
Further reading
Explore more on Utilities coverage for Montana energy and infrastructure developments.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Montana Public Radio.
Live Poll
Should government speed up approval of major mining and energy projects even if public input is reduced?
