Michigan applied for the presidential permit on June 21 2012 days after Snyder signed the NITC crossing agreement with Canadian officials.

Effectiveness of the agreement was subject to approval by the US State Department. The department conducted an extended public comment period before approving the permit, which now makes the Michigan-Canada agreement operative.

Other steps remain before NITC construction begins, but they hinged on Michigan's ability to secure a presidential permit.

"This is all about jobs for today and tomorrow," said governor Rick Snyder. "This is a major construction project that is expected to create 12,000 direct jobs and as many as 31,000 indirect jobs.”