A formalized agreement signed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday clears the way for a “pilot program” partnership between Alaska and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.

Dunleavy said the partnership is intended to expedite resource development and streamline permitting — a process long criticized by him and Alaska’s congressional delegation as burdensome and uncertain. The agreement directs the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to coordinate with the council and identify which projects could be fast-tracked.

“This is the beginning of what we think is going to be something that the whole country could use,” Dunleavy said.

The council was created in 2015 under a process known as FAST-41 to improve coordination of federal permit reviews. Five Alaska projects currently

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