Weekly announcements and environmental review notices

Volume 47, Number 25? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?June 20, 2023

Announcements

Environmental Quality Board?meeting

Wednesday, June 21, 1 ? 4 p.m. Join us in person or virtually for the June, 2023 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the board will hear a process update regarding the environmental review continuous improvement effort.? The board will also hear follow-up to public comments made at the May 17 meeting, as well as information regarding an environmental congress.?More information about the meeting, including the meeting packet and virtual meeting information, can be found on the?board meeting webpage.

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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Fountain Lake Habitat Restoration

Location (city/township; county):?Albert Lea;?Freeborn
Process:?EAW
Step:?EAW available
End of comment period:?July 20, 2023

Project description:?The Shell Rock River Watershed District is proposing construction of a fish habitat restoration project within Fountain Lake in Albert Lea, MN. Project work includes constructing rock reefs, brush reef cribs, spawning areas, and a toe-wood bank stabilization to enhance and restore fish habitat to approximately 7.5 acres of the lake following dredging of the lake.

Link to public documents:?Fountain Lake Habitat Restoration EAW
Location of public documents:?Shell Rock River Watershed District, 305 South First Avenue,?Albert Lea, MN 56007

Public meeting date, time, location:?July 11, 2023, 8:30 a.m., SRRWD Office, 305 South First Avenue, Albert Lea, MN 56007

Responsible governmental unit and contact:?Shell Rock River Watershed District,
Andy Henschel, 507-377-5785

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Hamline Midway Library

Location (city/township; county):?St. Paul;?Ramsey
Process:?EAW
Step:?EAW available
End of comment period:?July 20, 2023

Project description:?The Saint Paul Public Library is proposing to demolish the existing Hamline Midway Library to make space for a new 10,454 square foot library building.

Link to public documents:?Hamline Midway Library EAW
Location of public documents:?City of St. Paul - City Hall, 1400 City Hall Annex, 25 West Fourth Street,?St. Paul, MN 55102

Responsible governmental unit and contact:?City of St. Paul,?Josh Williams,
651-266-6659

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Heartland Corn Products Pipeline Project

Location (city/township; county):?Winthrop;?Sibley
Process:?EAW
Step:?EAW available
End of comment period:?July 20, 2023

Project description:?Heartland Corn Products, Inc., an ethanol production facility at 53331 Highway 19 East, Winthrop, Minnesota, proposes to construct a new natural gas pipeline to serve the ethanol plant to increase the supply of natural gas to the facility. A new higher-capacity natural gas pipeline, along with additional facility improvements, will allow HCP to increase its currently permitted ethanol production capacity of 155 million gallons per year (MMgpy) by up to 25 MMgpy to a total capacity of 180 MMgpy.

Link to public documents:?Heartland Corn Products Pipeline Project EAW
Location of public documents:?Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road,?Saint Paul, MN 55155

Responsible governmental unit and contact:?Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Samantha Bump, 651-757-2146

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Luke and Melissa Stevens Swine Facility

Location (city/township; county):?Friendship Township;?Yellow Medicine
Process:?EAW
Step:?EIS need decision

Responsible governmental unit decision:?Negative (EIS not ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date:?June 13, 2023

Link to public documents:?Luke and Melissa Stevens Swine Facility EIS need decision Location of public documents:?Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road North,?Saint Paul, MN 55155

Responsible governmental unit and contact:?MPCA,?Megen Kabele, 651-757-2044

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Grindstone Dam Removal Project

Location (city/township; county):?Hinckley;?Pine
Process:?EIS
Step:?Draft EIS
End of comment period:?July 5, 2023

Project description:?The DNR proposes to remove the dam on the Grindstone River in Hinckley and restore connectivity to the river channel. This would result in the permanent removal of the 26.6-acre Grindstone Reservoir, which is a public water basin. The removal is proposed because the dam is in poor condition, it presents a safety hazard, and it is a barrier to passage of fish and other aquatic wildlife on the river. The dam also does not allow for natural sediment transport and natural stream features or habitat diversity.

Link to public documents:?Grindstone Dam Removal Project draft EIS
Location of public documents:?Hinckley Public Library, 106 1st Street Southeast,?Hinckley, MN 55037

Public meeting date, time, location:?July 12, 2023, 5:30 p.m., Hinckley Community Room, 106 1st Street Southeast, Hinckley, MN 55037
Public meeting additional details:?5:30 - 6:00 pm: open house 6:00 - 7:30 pm: formal presentation and public comments

Responsible governmental unit and contact:?Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,?Becky Horton, 651-259-5122

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Access the EQB monitor submission service

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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].