MN HF20

Allows responsible governmental units to contract for preparation of environmental impact statements rather than requiring in-house preparation.

Reduces environmental impact statement preparation timeline from 280 days to 120 days, with inadequate statements requiring 45-day revision period instead of 60 days.

Shortens final permit decision deadline from 90 days to 60 days after environmental impact statement approval.

Establishes automatic approval of permits if governmental units fail to act within required timeframes, unless project proposer agrees to written contract extension.

Exempts ethanol plants producing less than 125,000,000 gallons annually outside the seven-county metropolitan area from mandatory environmental impact statement requirements.