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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 49, Number 35                                                                                    September 2, 2025






Minnehaha waterfall in summer Minnesota




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] ].

 

Nine Mile Creek Corridor Renewal Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Bloomington; Hennepin
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *October 2, 2025

*Project description: *The Nine Mile Creek Corridor Renewal Project is a comprehensive effort to improve the ecological health of the Nine Mile Creek corridor by improving woodland and prairie habitat, repairing unstable stream embankments and eroded slopes, restoring creek meanders, replacing bridges and trails, and improving amenities in several parks.

*Location of public documents:* Bloomington City Hall, 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd,
Bloomington, MN 55431

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Bloomington, Nick Johnson <[email protected]>,
952-563-8925

 

U. S. Steel Keetac Tailings Storage Facility Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Keewatin; Itasca, St. Louis
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *October 2, 2025

*Project description: *U.S. Steel is proposing to modify its existing Tailings Storage Facility for its Keetac taconite mining operation in St. Louis and Itasca Counties. Activities would involve vertically raising the existing dams and dikes using downstream and modified centerline construction methods, that would extend the dam and dikes beyond the current tailings storage facility's footprint. The Project would also involve constructing a new access road, as well as new industrial building and infrastructure for tailings separation and tailings dewatering. The infrastructure would produce coarse tailings for use in dam and dike construction and thickened fine tailings for discharge to the tailings storage facility. The project proposes revisions to the existing tailings basin, but there are no proposed revisions to mining activities or taconite processing facilities.
U. S. Steel Keetac Tailings Storage Facility Project project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Keewatin Public Library, 125 W. Third Ave, Keewatin,
MN 55753

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Becky Horton <[email protected]>, 651-259-5122

 

Archer Datacenters Faribault Campus [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Faribault; Rice
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered) 
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *August 12, 2025

*Project description: *The Archer Datacenters Faribault Campus project is south of 150th Street West and east of Acorn Trail in Faribault, Rice County, MN. The site consists of one parcel of approximately 84.3 acres of agricultural and undeveloped woodland. Archer Datacenters proposes to develop the study area from existing agriculture to up to 500,000 square feet of data center buildings with associated utilities and parking lot.

*Location of public documents:* Faribault City Hall, 208 NW 1st Avenue, Faribault,
MN 55021

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Faribault, Harry Davis <[email protected]>, 507-333-0388

 

Century Ponds EAW [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Maplewood; Ramsey
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision

***Responsible governmental unit decision: ***Negative (no EIS ordered) 
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *August 26, 2025

*Project description: *The Century Ponds project is a proposed low-density development consisting of single-family homes and townhomes on a 92.25 acre former golf course in the City of Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota. It is located in the southwest quadrant of Lower Afton Rd E (CSAH 39) and Century Ave S (CSAH 25) and will include internal roads and connection to municipal utilities.
Century Ponds EAW project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Maplewood City Hall, 1830 County Rd B E, Maplewood,
MN 55109

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Maplewood, Michael Martin <[email protected]>,
651-249-2303

 

Project Skyway [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Pine Island; Goodhue
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Revised AUAR
*End of comment period: *September 16, 2025

*Project description: *Ryan Companies US, Inc. is preparing an AUAR for an approximate 482-acre area in the City of Pine Island and Pine Island Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. The AUAR area is bounded by 490th Street to the north, Trunk Highway (TH) 52 to the west and south, and 195th Avenue to the east. Development scenarios include a Mixed Technology Center/ Light Industrial Scenario (Scenario A) and Technology Center Scenario (Scenario B).
Project Skyway project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Pine Island City Hall, 250 South Main Street, Pine Island, MN 55963

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Pine Island, Elizabeth Howard <[email protected]>,
507-356-4591

 

Northwest Expansion Area AUAR Update [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Inver Grove Heights; Dakota
*Process: *AUAR update
*Step: *AUAR update adoption

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Adequate
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *August 25, 2025

*Project description: *The AUAR study area is a 3,089-acre area in the northwest portion of the city of Inver Grove Heights. The area is bounded by Interstate 494 on the north, Babcock Trail on the east (approximately), the city’s boundary with Eagan on the west, and includes an area just south of Highway 55 on the south. Development has occurred within the Northwest Area since the original AUAR in 2005.
Northwest Expansion Area AUAR Update project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Inver Grove Heights City Hall, 8150 Barbara Avenue, 
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Inver Grove Heights, Jason Ziemer <[email protected]>, 651-450-2546

 

Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location: *Alexandria, Big Stone, Douglas, Pope, Stevens, Swift
*Process: *Alternative review
*End of comment period: *October 20, 2025

*Notice title: *Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
*Notice description: *The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings on the route permit application for the Big Stone South to Alexandria Transmission Line Project. The purpose of the public hearings is to obtain public input on the proposed project and compile the record for the Commission to consider in making a final decision on the route permit application. The Commission issued a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project on September 4th, 2025. The purpose of the draft EIS is to provide information on the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project, possible mitigations for identified impacts, and evaluation of any routing alternatives contained in the scoping decision. The EIS is available on the Commission's project webpage [ [link removed] ].

*Project description: *The Applicants propose to construct over 90 miles of new transmission line from Big Stone South, South Dakota to Alexandria, Minnesota along portions of Big Stone, Swift, Stevens, Pope, and Douglas Counties. New transmission lines will be required to connect the existing substations in Big Stone South and Alexandria. Both of the existing substations would also require minor expansions. A new fiber optic Regeneration Station would be needed within the central segment of the project on 0.23 acres of land.

*Location of public documents:* Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Pl E #350, St Paul, MN 55101

*First public meeting date, time, location: *September 30, 2025, 10:00 a.m., Broadway
Ballroom, 115 30th Ave E, Alexandria, MN 56308
**First public* meeting additional details:* 10:00 a.m. (doors open pre-meeting hour)
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (formal meeting)

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *September 30, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Lakeside
Ballroom, 180 S Lakeshore Drive, Glenwood, MN 56334
**Second public * meeting additional details:* 5:00 p.m. (doors open pre-meeting hour)
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (formal meeting)

*Third public meeting date, time, location: *October 1, 2025, 10:00 a.m., Hancock City Hall, 662 6th St, Hancock, MN 56244
**Third public * meeting additional details:* 10:00 a.m. (doors open pre-meeting hour)
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (formal meeting)

*Fourth public meeting date, time, location: *October 1, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Benson Northside Elementary School, 1800 Nevada Ave, Benson, MN 56215
**Fourth public * meeting additional details:* 5:00 p.m. (doors open pre-meeting hour)
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (formal meeting)

*Fifth public meeting date, time, location: *October 2, 2025, 10:00 a.m., Sioux Historic
Pavilion, 1073 Lake Shore Dr, Ortonville, MN 56278
**Fifth public* meeting additional details:* 10:00 a.m. (doors open pre-meeting hour)
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (formal meeting)

*Sixth public meeting date, time, location: *October 2, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
**Sixth public *meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Sixth public meeting additional details:* Webinar Number: 2493 131 9679
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2493 131 9679 
Additional WebEx information and instructions [ [link removed] ]

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Jenna Ness <[email protected]>, 651-539-1061

 

General notices

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

 

Notice of Decision - Minnesota Energy Connection (MNEC) Project

*Notice description: *In the Matter of the Applications of Xcel Energy for a Certificate of Need and Route Permit for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project in Sherburne, Stearns, Kandiyohi, Wright, Meeker, Chippewa, Yellow Medicine, Renville, Redwood, and Lyon counties in Minnesota., Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Docket No. E-002/CN-22-131 and E-002/TL-22-132 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an in order issued on June 11, 2025, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission: (1) determined that the final environmental impact statement was adequate; and (2) granted to Xcel Energy a certificate of need and route permit for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project, a new 176-mile 345-kilovolt double-circuit high-voltage transmission line located in Sherburne, Stearns, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Renville, Redwood, and Lyon counties, Minnesota.

**Link to additional information: **Minnesota Energy Connection (MNEC) Project additional [ [link removed] ] information [ [link removed] ]

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

 

Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of Environmental Assessment - Boswell Solar Project

*Notice description: *The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings on Minnesota Power's application for a site and route permit for its proposed 85-megawatt Boswell Solar Project and associated 2.45-mile 230-kilovolt transmission line to be located in parts of the city of Cohasset, Leech Lake Band of the Ojibwe Reservation, and Deer Lake Township in Itasca County, Minnesota. PUC Docket Numbers: E-015/GS-24-425 and E-015/TL-24-426; CAH Docket Number: 24-2500-40659. Written comments will be accepted through September 25, 2025, by 4:30 p.m.
Submit Comments:
Online: [link removed]
Email: [email protected]
U.S. Mail: Consumer Affairs Office, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place East, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101

*First public meeting date, time, location: *September 10, 2025, 12:00 p.m., BENA Community Center, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, 15085 Old Housing Drive NE, Bena, MN 56626
**First public* meeting additional details:* The public hearings will be presided over by the Honorable Kristien R. E. Butler, an administrative law judge with the Court of Administrative Hearings, who will provide the Commission with findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a recommendation. The purpose of the public hearings is to obtain public input on the proposed project and compile the record for the Commission to consider in making a final decision on the joint site and route permit application. Specifically, interested persons will have the opportunity to: (1) ask questions of state staff and the applicant; (2) offer oral and written comments on the merits of the proposed project and on the environmental assessment; and (3) suggest possible conditions to be considered for inclusion in the site and route permits. Comments received at the hearings and during the comment period will be used to inform the record and help the Commission make its final decision. The information presented will be the same at all in-person and online hearings. The hearings will end when all present attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded, or at the scheduled end time of the hearing, whichever occurs first. Accordingly, it is recommended that all interested persons arrive at the scheduled start time. Members of the public may participate without the necessity of intervening as a party; representation by legal counsel is permitted but not required.

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *September 10, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Cohasset Community Center, 305 1st Avenue NW, Cohasset, MN, 55721
**Second public* meeting date, time, location: *September 11, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
**Second public* meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
**Second public* meeting additional details:* Webinar Number: 2494 653 8447
Webinar Password: Y4zdUUMCk34 (94938862 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 249 465 38447
If you are joining the hearing via WebEx and would like to ask a question or make a comment during the designated portion of the hearing, use the raised-hand function or the chat function to send a message to the hearing moderator. If you are joining the hearing by phone, press *3 on your phone. When it is your turn to speak, your line will be unmuted, and you will be able to ask questions and provide comments.

*Link to additional information: *Boswell Solar Project 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*



8/21/2025



Fergus Falls



Otter Tail



Alice Lake



Pike, Carp, Sunfish, Crappie



1,000



8/21/2025



Alexandria



Douglas



Nordic Trails Golf Course



Not specified



Not quantified



8/22/2025



Atwater



Kandiyohi



 



Bass, Bullheads, Sunfish



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].


















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