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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 47, Number 41                                                                                      October 10, 2023






Open positions

We're hiring - Minnesota Environmental Quality Board
*EQB Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Data Analyst *

This is a new position which provides leadership and technical expertise for the evaluation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Minnesota’s environmental review program. This position is temporary with an anticipated end date of 6/30/2025. Application deadline is October 23rd. Find more information and apply on the State of Minnesota's Careers website [ [link removed] ] (Job ID # 70019).



*EQB Public Board Member, Congressional District 5*

Applications are open for the EQB Public Board Member position representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. Serving on the EQB is a unique opportunity to shape environmental issues in Minnesota. Public Board Members bring the voices of Minnesotans from around the state into decision making, helping the Board think in new ways about environmental challenges and solutions. To learn more, visit the EQB’s
Join the Board [ [link removed] ] page.

 

Announcements

*Environmental Quality Board meeting*

*Wednesday, October 18, 1 – 4 p.m. *Join us in person or virtually for the October 2023 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the board will:


* Hear an update and discussion from MPCA on Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework [ [link removed] ], a plan that sets a vision for how our state will address and prepare for climate change. It identifies immediate, near-term actions we must take to achieve our long-term goal of a carbon-neutral, resilient, and equitable future for Minnesota. MPCA will also discuss implementation, funding, and reporting for the framework and other inter-agency Climate Work.
* Vote on the updated per diem and expense policy. 

More information about the meeting, including the meeting packet and virtual meeting information, can be found on the board meeting webpage [ [link removed] ].

 

*EQB welcomes public feedback on the 2023 Obsolete Rules Report*

EQB is required to submit this report to the legislature, documenting any obsolete, unnecessary, or duplicative statutes or rules by December 1 of each year. EQB conducted review of its rules and presents the following draft report for your review. Please note that any rule changes necessary for aligning, clarifying, or updating content will be categorized as 'housekeeping' and therefore not listed in this report. 

Please email any comments to Kayla Walsh ([email protected] <[email protected]?subject=Obsolete%20Rules%20Report%20draft%20feedback>) by October 31, 2023. Click here to view the draft report [ [link removed] ]. 






Autumn trees on a country lane




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] ].

 

Wabasha Barge Facility [ [link removed] ]

*This project notice was published in the Oct 3 "EQB" "Monitor", however the end of comment period date and the public meeting date were incorrect.  The correct dates
are listed below.

*Location (city/township; county): *Wabasha; Wabasha
*Process: *EIS
*Step: *Draft EIS
*End of comment period: *November 2, 2023

*Project description: *The City of Wabasha, in cooperation with the Wabasha Port Authority, is proposing to construct a commercial port facility on the Mississippi River in the City of Wabasha, Minnesota. The 8.2-acre Wabasha Barge Facility would facilitate the transfer of materials, to include but not limited to dredge material and other commodities, from river barges to trucks for transport to off-site facilities. The City of Wabasha would own the project site and contract out the port operations and transportation of materials.

*Location of public documents:* Wabasha City Hall, 900 Hiawatha Drive East, Wabasha, MN 55981

*Public meeting date, time, location: *October 19, 2023, 5:30 p.m., Wabasha City Hall,
900 Hiawatha Drive East, Wabasha, MN, 55981

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Wabasha Port Authority, Caroline Gregerson <[email protected]>, 651-565-4568

 

Valleyhigh Development [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Rochester; Olmsted
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *November 9, 2023

*Project description: *The Valleyhigh Development project is a proposed low and medium density residential development on an existing approximately 75 acre agriculture site in the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota. The project includes approximately 192 proposed single family homes and 660 proposed multi-family homes and is located near the intersection of Valleyhigh Road (Rd) NW and 50th Avenue (Ave) NW (Appendix A, Figure 1). The project will include a new internal roadway network, stormwater features, and the installation of municipal sanitary sewer and water utilities.

*Link to public documents: *Valleyhigh Development EAW [ [link removed] ]
*Location of public documents:* Rochester Community Development, 4001 West River Parkway NW, Rochester, MN 55901

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Rochester Community Development, Ryan Yetzer <[email protected]>, 507-328-2600

 

Ebersole Residential Subdivision [ [link removed] ]

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

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Negative (EIS not ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *October 3, 2023

*Project description: *The Ebersole Residential Subdivision project is proposed on approximately 88.25 acres of land outside and northwest of the City of Delano, Wright County. The project area is within the City's planned transition area boundary and is primarily agricultural fields with some wetland, woodland, the Crow River and riverbanks. The project area is located east of Highway 12 and northwest of downtown Delano on 3 existing parcels. Development of the project area will demolish and remove existing structures from two of the three parcels. Project construction will convert 61.6 acres of crop land, permanently impact approximately 0.8 acres of wetland with fill, remove 11.9 acres of trees, and create lots within a shoreland overlay. Approximately 183 single-family lots and homes, and 102 attached townhomes in 23 buildings will be built along with the installation of roads, municipal utilities, mass grading, and storm water management practices.

*Link to public documents: *Ebersole Residential Subdivision EIS need decision [ [link removed] ]
*Location of public documents:* City of Delano City Hall, 234 2nd Street N, Delano,
MN 55328

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Delano, Shawn Louwagie <[email protected]>,
763-972-0586

 

Swift Coulee Channel Restoration Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Alma Township; Marshall
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Negative (EIS not ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *October 3, 2023

*Project description: *The Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers Watershed District is proposing the restoration of the Swift Coulee from the 360th Ave NW to Marshall County Highway 3. The restoration will provide greater flood damage reduction to agricultural fields and public transportation infrastructure while also providing natural resource enhancements and water quality benefits to the Swift Coulee and downstream receiving waters. The projects construction and permitting will be completed in phases. This EAW will cover the project in its entirety, across all phases of the project.

*Link to public documents: *Swift Coulee Channel Restoration Project EIS need decision [ [link removed] ]
*Location of public documents:* Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers Watershed District, 453 North McKinley St., Warren, MN 56762

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers Watershed District, Morteza Maher <[email protected]>, 218-745-4741

 

Gateway Study Area AUAR Update [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Edina; Hennepin
*Process: *AUAR update
*Step: *Revised AUAR

*Project description: *The City of Edina has updated the Gateway Study Area AUAR. This is a 135 acre redevelopment area between TH100, France Avenue, 76th Street West, and the border with the City of Bloomington.

*Link to public documents: *Gateway Study Area AUAR Update revised AUAR [ [link removed] ]
*Location of public documents:* City of Edina - City Hall, 4801 West 50th St, Edina,
MN 55424

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Edina, Cary Teague <[email protected]>, 952-826-0460

 

General notices

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

FONSI for I-94 Reconstruction (Segments 3 and 4) - SP No. 8680-189

*Notice description: *A state EAW and federal Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed in 2019 for reconstruction of I-94 between Clearwater and Albertville (Segments 1 - 4). A Negative Declaration on the Need for an EIS was issued for the entire corridor in April 2019. The federal EA (SP 8680-173) documented the entire corridor, but only requested environmental clearance for Segments 1 and 2 (Clearwater to Monticello) as Segments 3 and 4 were not in the approved STIP or CHIP at that time. An EA Re-Evaluation was completed for Segments 3 and 4 (Monticello to Albertville) and the Federal Highway Association issued a Finding of No Significant Impact in July 2023. The project involves a combination of unbonded concrete overlay and reconstruction of I-94. The project will involve widening and storm sewer will replace the drainage function of the existing median ditch. Four stormwater management areas and two noise walls will also be constructed.

*Contact: *Minnesota Department of Transportation, Darren Nelson <[email protected]>, 218-828-5760

*Link to additional information: *FONSI for I-94 Reconstruction additional information [ [link removed] ]

 

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*.

 

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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 [ [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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