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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 48, Number 22                                                                                              May 28, 2024











Minnesota summer on lake




Environmental review project notices

EQB publishes environmental review notices provided by responsible governmental units. For more information on a project undergoing environmental review, click on the individual project links below. You can also find information about active projects in your community on the Environmental Review Projects Interactive Map [ [link removed] ].

 

Milestone Materials

**Location (city/township; county): **Dennison; Rice**
***Process: *Petition
*Step: *Responsible governmental unit assigned

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Rice County, Julie Runke <[email protected]>l, 507-332-6113

 

Minnesota Sands, LLC, Dabelstein Mine [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Pilot Mound Township; Fillmore
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *June 27, 2024

*Project description: *The Roger Dabelstein mine plan consists of industrial silica sand excavation on a 50-acre grassland/agricultural site in Pilot Mound Township, Fillmore County (Figure 1). The project will excavate sandstone in five 10-acre phases and haul it via State Highway 30 to various destinations for processing and distribution. Reclamation will result in 22 additional cropland acres and 10 acres of dry prairie, oak openings, and cliff plantings.

*Location of public documents:* Fillmore County Courthouse, 101 Fillmore St. W, Preston, MN 55965

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Fillmore County, Blake Lea <[email protected]>, 507-765-3325

 

US Distilled Products Storage Tank Expansion [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Princeton; Sherburne
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *June 27, 2024

*Project description: *US Distilled Products is proposing to construct new storage tanks to support its spirits blending and bottling operation. The Project includes three components resulting in a net increase of approximately 120,753 gallons storage at the facility's existing, outdoor tank farm (A-Building Blending Facility and adjacent containment area); approximately 80,297 gallons storage at the facility's existing, indoor I-Building Blending Area; and the potential future addition of approximately 180,000 gallons of new storage tank capacity with a South Tank Farm and Outdoor Containment Area. In total, the Project would increase total hazardous material storage to over 1 million gallons at the USDP facility.
US Distilled Products Storage Tank Expansion project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road North, Saint Paul, MN 55155

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 
Doree Husnik <[email protected]>, 651-757-2374

 

Fountain Lake Restoration Project - East Main Bay and North Bay [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Albert Lea; Freeborn
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Negative (EIS not ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *May 20, 2024

*Project description: *This discretionary EAW involves dredging accumulated sediment from approximately 143.2 acres within East Main Bay and North Bay of Fountain Lake in Albert Lea, MN. In August 2016, an EAW was published and circulated that considered the dredging of all bays in Fountain Lake. Largely due to funding constraints, the project limits were reduced and portions were excluded in the October 2016 negative declaration on the need for an EIS. Since eight (8) years have passed, this discretionary EAW is being circulated to support dredging East Main Bay and North Bay.
Fountain Lake Restoration Project - East Main Bay and North Bay project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Shell Rock River Watershed District, 305 South 1st Ave, Albert, MN 56007
*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Shell Rock River Watershed District, 
Andy Henschel <[email protected]>, 507-377-5785

 

Thomson Reuters Redevelopment Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Eagan; Dakota
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Draft order for review
*End of comment period: *June 27, 2024

*Project description: *Ryan Companies US, Inc. is preparing an AUAR for an approximately 179-acre area on the former Thomson Reuters office campus at Trunk Highway (TH) 149 (Dodd Road) and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 28 (Yankee Doodle Road) in Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota. Two development scenarios will be evaluated as part of the AUAR which include a major office scenario consistent with the City’s adopted Comprehensive Plan, and a light industrial and residential scenario. Today, the AUAR area consists of the mostly vacant Thomson Reuters office building, two existing data centers and associated infrastructure.
Thomson Reuters Redevelopment Project project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* City of Eagan, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122

*Public meeting date, time, location: *June 12, 2024, 5:30 p.m., Eagan City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122
*Public meeting additional details:* Meeting will be held at Eagan City Hall in the Training Room, which is located on the lower level. Enter City Hall at the south entrance directly across from the City Arena.

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Eagan, Michael Schultz <[email protected]>,
651-675-5650

 

General notices

Notices published in this section may be required under Minnesota Statute or Rule.

 

Notice of Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Decision

*Notice description: *PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Department) has issued the scoping decision for the environmental impact statement (EIS) that will be prepared for the proposed Minnesota Energy Connection Project. The EIS will be prepared by the Department's Energy Environmental Review and Analysis staff and will address the potential human and environmental impacts of the project. The scoping decision identifies those issues that will be studied, as well as those that will not be addressed.
*Contact: *Minnesota Department of Commerce, Andrew Levi <[email protected]>, 651-539-1840

*Link to additional information: *Notice of Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Decision additional information [ [link removed] ]

 

Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of Environmental Assessment

*Notice description: *The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings on the applications of Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (Applicants) for a certificate of need for the proposed Big Stone South-Alexandria-Big Oaks 345 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Project and a route permit for the Alexandria to Big Oaks 345 kV Transmission Project, the eastern segment of the Big Stone South-Alexandria-Big Oaks 345 kV Transmission Project. The proposed project consists of approximately 208 miles of new 345 kV transmission facilities between the Big Stone South Substation near Big Stone City South Dakota, the Alexandria Substation near Alexandria, Minnesota, and a new substation (Big Oaks Substation) proposed southwest of Becker, Minnesota.The project also includes the expansion of the Alexandria, Riverview, and Quarry substations.

*First public meeting date, time, location: *June 13, 2024, 10:00 a.m., Ally Cat, 620 US Highway 75, Ortonville, MN 56278
*Second public meeting date, time, location: *June 13, 2024, 5:00 p.m., Benson Northside Elementary, 1800 Nevada Avenue, Benson, MN 56215
*Third public meeting date, time, location: *June 17, 2024, 10:00 a.m., Broadway Ballroom, 115 30th Avenue East, Alexandria, MN 56308
*Fourth public meeting date, time, location: *June 17, 2024, 5:00 p.m., Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut Street, Monticello, MN 55362
*Fifth Public meeting date, time, location: *June 18, 2024, 10:00 a.m., College of St. Benedict Gorecki Hall, Room 204, 37 South College Avenue South, St. Joseph, MN 56374
*Sixth public meeting date, time, location: *June 18, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
*Sixth public meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Sixth public meeting additional details:* Webinar Number: 2489 794 6849 Webinar Password: PSdrH9FiG43 (77374934 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330 
Toll Free Access Code: 248 979 46849

*Link to additional information: *Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of Environmental Assessment additional information [ [link removed] ]

*Contact: *Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Scott Ek <[email protected]>, 651-539-1070

 

Fish kill reports

Minnesota Duty Officer reports pertaining to fish kills are summarized in the following table, in accordance with 103G.216, REPORTING FISH KILLS IN PUBLIC WATERS, Subd. 2 Reporting Requirement. These reports were received via the Minnesota Duty Officer prior to the submission deadline for this edition of the EQB Monitor. They represent the raw data/information provided by callers. For more information regarding fish kills in Minnesota see the Department of Natural Resources [ [link removed] ]. Call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 651‐649‐5451 or 800‐422‐0798 to report fish kills.

*Date*



*Location*



*County*



*Waterbody*



*Species*



*Count*



5/15/2024



Minneapolis



Hennepin



Lake Nokomis



Crappie



115



5/15/2024



St. James



Watonwan



Long Lake



Bullhead



1000+



5/16/2024



Nisswa



Crow Wing



Hubert Lake



Bass



not reported



5/16/2024



St. James



Watonwan



Long Lake



Catfish



100



5/17/2024



St. James



Watonwan



Long Lake



Bullhead



100+



5/20/2024



Walker



Cass



Leech Lake



not reported



100+



 

Submit a notice to the "EQB" "Monitor"

The "EQB Monitor" is a weekly publication announcing environmental review documents, public comment periods and other actions of the Environmental Quality Board. The "EQB Monitor" is published every Tuesday at noon. Submissions to the "EQB Monitor [ [link removed] ]" are due by 4:00 p.m. on the Tuesday one week prior to the intended publication date. Please see the EQB Monitor schedule [ [link removed] ] for more details.

 

To submit a notice for publication:

Access the EQB monitor submission service [ [link removed] ]

 

Questions? Contact EQB by phone at 651-757-2873 or email us at [email protected]. 

For more information on environmental review, please visit the EQB website or contact us at [email protected].


















Minnesota Environmental Quality Board

*Environmental Quality Board | eqb.state.mn.us [ [link removed] ] *

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 651-757-2873

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