To the editor,

On behalf of the 2,300 members of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and businesses across Minnesota, we extend our appreciation to Rep. Tom Anzelc and Rep. David Dill. They provided leadership on legislation to expedite and streamline the environmental permitting and review process in Minnesota while also ensuring that the public health and the environment and natural resources of the state are protected.

Thanks to their efforts, the environmental permitting process will contain greater efficiencies and much-needed practical changes. These changes will allow Minnesota businesses to remain competitive nationally as well as internationally.

Specific to northern Minnesota, the three-year pilot project for expedited environmental permits will help the scram mining industry, and the changes to allow the development and advancement of cellulosic ethanol and biofuel industries will help the region’s economy to prosper through enhanced development opportunities.

Tony Kwilas

director, Environmental Policy

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

St. Paul MN