Weekly announcements and environmental review notices

Volume 47, Number 19? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? May 9, 2023

Announcements

Environmental Quality Board?meeting

Wednesday, May 17, 1 ? 4 p.m.
Join us in person or virtually for the May, 2023 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the board will hear a Genetically Engineered Organism update. The board will also hear a process update regarding the environmental review continuous improvement effort. More information about the meeting, including the meeting packet and virtual meeting information, can be found on the?board meeting webpage.

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Help shape Minnesota?s management of materials and waste

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is developing the Solid Waste Policy Report, a report that gets submitted to the Minnesota Legislature every four years. It provides an overview of the current state of materials management and solid waste management throughout Minnesota. It also outlines opportunities and policy recommendations to reduce the environmental and climate impacts of these systems.?In preparing a list of recommendations, the MPCA would like your feedback?on your top priorities or topics of most interest or concern. We want your recommendations on the connection between climate and the management of materials and solid waste; the environmental and climate impacts of demand/consumption of materials and products; Minnesota?s generation and management of materials and waste at end-of-use; other topics related to source reduction, reuse, recycling, organics, and waste management. The MPCA is gathering feedback via this form until May 31, 2023.?

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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.

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Ritter Meadows Development Project

Location: Lakeville, Dakota County
Process: Petition
Step: Responsible governmental unit assigned

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Lakeville, Daryl Morey,
952-985-4422

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City of Cohasset's Revised Decision regarding Need for EIS and Findings?

Location: Cohasset, Itasca County
Process: Environmental assessment worksheet
Step: Environmental impact statement (EIS) need decision

Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (no EIS ordered)
Responsible governmental unit decision date: April 25, 2023

Link to public documents: City of Cohasset's Revised Decision regarding Need for EIS and Findings
Location of public documents: Cohasset City Hall, 305 Northwest First Avenue, Cohasset, MN 55721

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Cohasset, Mayor Andy MacDonell, 218-328-6225

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St. Joseph Area 115 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project

Location: St. Joseph Township, Stearns County
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: June 1, 2023

Notice title: Notice of Environmental Assessment Availability, Public Hearings, and Comment Period
Notice description: The Honorable Suzanne Todnem, Administrative Law Judge with the Office of Administrative Hearings, will preside over the public hearings and will provide the Commission with findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a recommendation. The purpose of the public hearings is to receive public input on the proposed project and the route permit. Interested persons will have the opportunity to: (1) ask questions of the applicant and agency staff; (2) offer oral and written comments on the merits of the proposed project; and (3) suggest possible conditions to be considered for inclusion in a route permit. Members of the public may participate without the necessity of intervening as a party. Representation by legal counsel is permitted but not required. The hearings will end when all attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded, or 9:00 p.m., whichever occurs first.
Project description: GRE has applied for a route permit to rebuild its existing 69 kilovolt transmission line (ST-WW Line) in the city of St. Joseph and in St. Joseph and Wendell townships in Stearns County, Minnesota. The proposed transmission line rebuild project would include: 1. Removing approximately 3.2 miles of an existing 69-kilovolt transmission line and structures between the West St. Cloud, Westwood, and Le Sauk substations and replacing those facilities with a new overhead 115-kilovolt transmission line and structures. 2. Extending the transmission line approximately 170 feet northwest near the Le Sauk Substation to tap into a new switch to be added on GRE?s existing 115-kilovolt transmission line and add a new switch near the existing Westwood Substation. 3. Expanding the existing West St. Cloud Substation by approximately 6,500 square feet to accommodate facility upgrades and additions.

Link to public documents: St. Joseph Area 115 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project documents
Location of public documents: St. Joseph City Hall, St. Joseph Government Center 75 Callaway St. E, St. Joseph, MN 56374

First public meeting date, time, location: May 17, 2023, 6 p.m., Millstream Park Meeting Facility, 725 County Road 75 W, St. Joseph, MN 56374
First public meeting additional details: Link to Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/KscEgwuRMLaZsyss7
Second public meeting date, time, location: May 18, 2023, 6 p.m., virtual meeting
Second public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Second public meeting additional details: WebEx Number: 2491 582 9464, WebEx Password: Kp3cmMw3Nm6 (57326693 from phones)

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Public Utilities Commission, Cezar Panait, 651-201-2207

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Use the?EQB Monitor?submission form

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