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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 49, Number 49                                                                                      December 9, 2025






Announcements

*Environmental Review Implementation Subcommittee meeting*

*Wednesday, December 17, 1 – 4 p.m.
*Join us in person or virtually for the December 2025 Environmental Review Implementation Subcommittee (ERIS) meeting. The subcommittee will hear updates on the Environmental Review (ER) workplan, the Climate Calculator, and the use and guidance of the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR). They will also hear an update on ER rulemaking including energy infrastructure, Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping, and gas production. More information about the meeting, including the meeting packet and virtual meeting information, can be found on the ERIS meeting webpage [ [link removed] ].






A male mallard floats calmly on a quiet winter lake, its emerald green head gleaming as snow falls gently around it.




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] ].

 

Fischer Pit Expansion

"* An earlier version of today's EQB Monitor inadvertently left out this petition decision notice. This amended version of the Monitor serves as the official Monitor publication for 12/9/2025."

*Location: *Vermillion Township, Dakota County
*Process: *Petition
*Step: *Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) need decision

*Responsible governmental unit decision:* EAW not required 
*Responsible governmental unit decision date: *November 24, 2025

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Vermillion Twp., Dakota County, Jeramy Ladzun <[email protected]>, 651-491-6603

 

Hermantown Data Center project

*Location: *Hermantown, St. Louis County
*Process: *Petition
*Step: *Petition exempt from review

*Notice description: *On Dec. 3, 2025, EQB received notice from the City of Hermantown (the designated responsible governmental unit) that environmental review has already been completed for the above-named project and therefore the petition will not be considered (Minn R. 4410.4600 Subp. 2 E [ [link removed] ]).
City of Hermantown Notice of Decision letter link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Hermantown, Eric Johnson <[email protected]>, 218-729-3600

 

Prairie Island Nuclear Plant Fuel Storage Expansion [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county):* Red Wing; Goodhue
*Process:* EIS
*Step:* EIS Addendum

*Project description:* Northern States Power Company, d/b/a Xcel Energy proposes to construct and operate an expanded independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) at PINGP to provide 20 additional years of spent fuel storage between 2033/2034 and 2053/2054. The expansion would use a welded canister dry fuel storage (DFS) system licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for both storage and transportation. The Project is proposed with the Company’s intent to seek necessary federal approvals to extend the existing operating life of the two pressurized water reactors at the plant. The Project would construct up to two pads, as needed, to store a projected 34 additional DFS systems (approximately 1,200 spent fuel assemblies) within the current fence line of the ISFSI.
Prairie Island Nuclear Plant Fuel Storage Expansion project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

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

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

 

Southwest Study Area AUAR [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Lakeville; Dakota
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Final order for review

*Project description: *The Southwest Study Area ("AUAR Area") includes twenty-one (21) parcels that comprise approximately 390.4 acres in Lakeville, Dakota County, Minnesota. The AUAR Area is generally located south of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 70/210th St W, west of Interstate 35 (I-35), and east of the City of Credit River, Scott County. Parts of the AUAR Area have historically been in agricultural use, several parcels are currently rural residential land use, and one parcel is currently undeveloped. Artemis Development Company (“Proposer”) is proposing to phase development within the AUAR Area to convert the existing land into a master planned residential and commercial development that may include institutional uses including a school over the next several years.

*Location of public documents:* City of Lakeville - City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Lakeville, Tina Goodroad <[email protected]>,
952-985-4421

 

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.

*No fish kill reports were received since the last publication.*

 

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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