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Senate panel recommits NDOT agency bill after debate over inspector immunity and grant, permit changes
Summary
Senate Bill 179, an INDOT/NDOT agency bill with technical corrections, a 5‑day single‑trip permit clarification, $75 million reallocation for Community Crossings applicants, and a provision enabling NDOT to apply for NEPA assignment, was discussed at length and recommitted to appropriations 9–0 after stakeholders raised liability and insurance concerns about a CEI immunity clause.
Senate Bill 179, a broad INDOT/NDOT agency bill that includes technical corrections, grant adjustments, permitting clarifications and statutory changes to allow NDOT to seek NEPA assignment, was recommitted to appropriations after extensive testimony and questions about a liability exemption for construction engineering inspection (CEI) firms.
NDOT legislative director Aaron Wainscott told the committee SB179 corrects drafting errors from last year, modernizes GIS and coordinate‑system language, clarifies that a single‑trip trucking permit expires five days after issuance, and reallocates $75,000,000 already in the Community Crossings account to applicants who were denied in the prior call. Wainscott said the bill also includes statutory authority and a limited waiver of sovereign immunity necessary for NDOT to apply for NEPA assignment, which the…
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