An administrative challenge of the permit was settled late last year, clearing the way for the permit that was announced Wednesday. That permit was granted after the project was significantly altered following recommendations from a task force to bring the benefits and impacts into line on both sides of the river. Until that agreement, struck by a task force led by then-Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Minnesota withheld its approval, complaining that Minnesota’s benefits from the project didn’t match the impacts. To resolve upstream concerns raised by Richland County in North Dakota and Wilkin County in Minnesota, as well as the Minnesota farming communities of Comstock and Wolverton, the Metro Flood Diversion Authority agreed to pay $75 million.