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.
Milestone Materials
Location (city/township; county): Dennison; Rice
Process: Petition
Step: Responsible governmental unit assigned
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Rice County, Julie Runkel, 507-332-6113
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, 507-765-3325
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
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, 651-757-2374
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
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, 507-377-5785
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
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,
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, 651-539-1840
Link to additional information: Notice of Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Decision additional information
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
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
Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Scott Ek, 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. Call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 651‐649‐5451 or 800‐422‐0798 to report fish kills.
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Date
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Location
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County
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Waterbody
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Species
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Count
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5/15/2024
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Minneapolis
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Hennepin
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Lake Nokomis
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Crappie
|
115
|
|
5/15/2024
|
St. James
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Watonwan
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Long Lake
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Bullhead
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1000+
|
|
5/16/2024
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Nisswa
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Crow Wing
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Hubert Lake
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Bass
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not reported
|
|
5/16/2024
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St. James
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Watonwan
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Long Lake
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Catfish
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100
|
|
5/17/2024
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St. James
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Watonwan
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Long Lake
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Bullhead
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100+
|
|
5/20/2024
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Walker
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Cass
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Leech Lake
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not reported
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100+
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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 are due by 4:00 p.m. on the Tuesday one week prior to the intended publication date. Please see the EQB Monitor schedule for more details.
To submit a notice for publication:
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].
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