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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 47, Number 46                                                                                   November 14, 2023






Announcements

*Environmental Quality Board meeting*

*Wednesday, November 15, 1 – 4 p.m.
* Join us virtually for the November 2023 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the Board will participate in a facilitated discussion and workshop in support of the EQB’s efforts to refresh and update the organization’s strategic plan for the next five years.

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






Autumn lake




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] ].

 

Grindstone Dam Removal Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Hinckley; Pine
*Process: *EIS
*Step: *EIS Adequacy Determination

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Adequate
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *November 6, 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 EIS adequacy determination [ [link removed] ]
*Location of public documents:* DNR Library, 500 Lafayette, Saint Paul, MN 55155

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

 

St. Joseph Area 115 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location: *Saint Joseph Township, Stearns
*Process: *Alternative review

*Notice title: *Notice of Permit Decision
*Notice description: *Notice of Permit Decision in the Matter of the Application of Great River Energy for a Route Permit for the St. Joseph Area 69 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project in Stearns County, Minnesota. Docket No. ET‐2/TL‐22‐235. NOTICE IS HEREBY GI VEN that in an order issued October 23, 2023, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission:(i) found that the environmental assessment prepared by the Department of Commerce and the record created at the public hearing addressed the issues identified in the scoping decision; and (ii) issued a route permit to Great River Energy for its 115 kV Transmission Line Project in Stearns County, Minnesota.
*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 alternative review [ [link removed] ]
*Location of public documents:* Clemens Library, 37 College Ave S Saint Joseph,
MN 56374

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Public Utilities Commission, Cezar Panait <[email protected]>, 651-201-2207

 

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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