5/16/2014 10:14:43 AM
Irrigation System at a farm in Rosholt, Minnesota
'Unsession' initiative streamlines permitting and payment process for Minnesotans
A newly designed web-based system that simplifies the steps to getting water permits and paying for them online is being rolled out by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The new MNDNR Permitting and Reporting System (MPARS) is part of Gov. Mark Dayton's initiative to streamline state government services.
The new application at www.mndnr.gov/mpars will save an anticipated $255,000 annually and allows DNR employees to devote more time to technical assistance and field work.
"DNR employees will have 5,000 more hours every year to protect and improve our environment, thanks to this 'Unsession' reform," Dayton said. "I thank Commissioner Tom Landwehr and his staff for making these commonsense changes that will dramatically reduce the time to process more than 10,000 water permit applications each year."#8232;#8232;The old paper application process was time consuming and inefficient with department staff spending hours hand-sorting applications and on manual data entry.
"We've tried to make it as easy and as pain-free as possible for water users while giving us a way to more precisely manage and conserve a precious natural resource," said Landwehr. "We'll be able to better track our water use, identify permit violations and increase compliance."
The department processes more than 10,000 permit applications and transactions each year, including reports on annual water use. Cities, farmers, businesses and landowners that use 1 million gallons of water each year, or more than 10,000 gallons a day, or work in public waters are required to get a water use permit or permit to work in public waters.#8232;#8232;Applicants now have access to maps and can track the progress of their applications online. They are also automatically alerted if they don't need a DNR water permit.