A major concern in any flooded area is to get things back to normal . A multi-agency approach to helping victims of the recent heavy rains in Iron and other counties is to help expedite permits needed to bring about repairs to the damage.
Martye Griffin, DNR statewide waterway science and policy leader, says the state has the responsibility to protect public waters and the legislature gives the DNR the job to issue permits to get that work done. He says typically that means a permit for a culvert over a private driveway as an example.
But he says the DNR has made some new measures to get the work in the flooded areas done quicker....
"...under the Governor's Executive Order, waiving the fees for the permit process and we also have the ability to move projects along quicker and then do the permit process at a later date...."
Griffin says the people with properties that include private road crossing where a culvert or bridge has been destroyed so people can have access to their properties. He says if a permit is needed, they will enter into the permit process at a later date. Information on whether a project qualifies for expedited review and how to proceed is available on the DNR website, along with a list of regional water management specialists and transportation liaisons that can help.
