HB-5463 Summary

• Establishes permit processing timelines for various environmental permits ranging from 20 days (oil/gas drilling) to 150 days (endangered species), with extensions for hearings up to 150 additional days.

• Creates a wetland advisory council with 25+ members representing state agencies, federal partners, environmental organizations, industry, local government, and academic expertise to evaluate program efficiency and make recommendations by October 1, 2010.

• Authorizes general permits and minor project categories for similar low-impact activities, reducing permitting burden through streamlined review without mandatory public hearings for authorized projects.

• Allows compensatory wetland mitigation through approved credits from mitigation banks, restoration of existing wetlands, creation of new wetlands, or preservation of exceptional wetlands.

• Requires $8 million in appropriations ($4M each from cleanup and redevelopment trust fund and community pollution prevention fund) plus $2 million from environmental protection fund for program implementation before bill takes effect.