Weekly announcements and environmental review notices

Volume 48, Number 12 March 19, 2024

Announcements

Environmental Review Implementation Subcommittee meeting

Wednesday, March 20, 1 – 4 p.m.
Join us in person or virtually for the March, 2024 Environmental Review Implementation Subcommittee (ERIS) meeting. At this meeting, the subcommittee will elect a Chair of ERIS, hear details on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s feedlots EAW form and the Environmental Review Performance Report for 2022-2023. The subcommittee will also hear updates on the GHG emission calculator and the Mandatory Category Report process. More information about the meeting, including the meeting packet and virtual meeting information, can be found on the ERIS meeting webpage.

Join our environmental review team!

Apply now for the EQB Technical Assistance and Energy Transitions Office Support position. This position will be responsible for providing technical assistance to responsible governmental units in completing environmental review, and will also work closely with the Department of Employment and Economic Development to support Minnesota’s Energy Transition communities. Apply by March 25 at the State of Minnesota Careers website (Job ID 74540).

Opportunity for public comment on fish kills protocol

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) released a statewide, multi-agency protocol that clearly shows how agencies work together when investigating fish kills in Minnesota. The new guidance includes investigation process, communications expectations, and strategies for reducing fish kills. The MPCA seeks public comment on this draft protocol. In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law mandating the development of a fish kill response protocol. A fish kill is the unexpected, sudden death of large numbers of fish in a certain area. The fish kills addressed in the new protocol include those related to the discharge or runoff of pollutants from the land through incidents like toxic spills; runoff of manure, pesticides, or fertilizers; and high-temperature wastewater or stormwater discharges.

The public comment period begins March 11 and ends May 10. Members of the public are invited to review the draft protocol and submit comments by visiting the public comment page or by U.S. mail to: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency c/o Justin Watkins, 7381 Airport View Drive, Rochester, MN 55902. Deadline: May 10, 2024

Environmental Review and Technical Services Master Contract RFP

The Department of Administration (Admin) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to establish new master contracts for environmental review related services. You can find the solicitation “Event 2000015438” in the SWIFT Supplier Portal, and the event listing “Reference Number PT4348” on the Admin postings webpage. This procurement will result in master contracts that will be available for use by all State Agency and local units of government registered as CPV Members. Responses must be uploaded into the SWIFT Supplier Portal no later than April 16 at 2:00pm. If you have trouble accessing the event or documents, please reach out to the Vendor Helpline at 651-201-8100, option 1,
option 1.

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.

Gun Lake Family Campground

Location (city/township; county): Fleming Township; Aitkin
County Process: Petition
Step: EAW need decision

Responsible governmental unit decision: EAW not required
Responsible governmental unit decision date: March 12, 2024

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Aitkin County Environmental Services, Andrew Carlstrom, 218-927-7342

Northland Constructors Borrow Pit Expansion

Location (city/township; county): Saginaw; St. Louis
Process: Petition
Step: RGU assignment

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Saint Louis County Planning and Zoning Department, Ryan Logan, 218-471-7622

Fountain Lake Restoration Project - East Main Bay and North Bay

Location (city/township; county): Albert Lea; Freeborn
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: April 18, 2024

Project description: This discretionary EAW involves dredging accumulated sediment from approximately 143.2 acres within East Main Bay and North Bay of Fountain Lake in Albert Lea, MN. In August 2016, an EAW was published and circulated that considered the dredging of all bays in Fountain Lake. Largely due to funding constraints, the project limits were reduced and portions were excluded in the October 2016 negative declaration on the need for an EIS. Since eight (8) years have passed, this discretionary EAW is being circulated to support dredging East Main Bay and North Bay.

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

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

US 10 Congestion Mitigation Project - Anoka County

Location (city/township; county): Coon Rapids; Anoka
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: April 18, 2024

Project description: Anoka County and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) propose adding an additional lane and widened inside shoulder along both eastbound and westbound directions of US Highway 10 and Minnesota Trunk Highway 47 (US 10) from Round Lake Blvd to Creek Meadow Dr in Coon Rapids, MN.

Link to public documents: US 10 Congestion Mitigation Project EAW
Location of public documents: Crooked Lake Public Library, 11440 Crooked Lake Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433

Public meeting date, time, location: April 2, 2024, 7:00 p.m., Coon Rapids City Hall, 11155 Robinson Drive NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Public meeting additional details: A public hearing will be held on April 2, 2024 at 7 p.m. during the Coon Rapids City Council meeting

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Michael Kronzer, 612-790-2764

MCES 7031-9003 Siphon Outlet Improvements Project

Location (city/township; county): Eagan; Dakota
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision

Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (EIS not ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: March 11, 2024

Project description: Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) proposes to conduct inspection, maintenance, and replacement activities to critical sanitary sewer infrastructure along approximately 800 feet of Nicols Road and adjacent areas in the City of Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota.

Link to public documents: MCES 7031-9003 Siphon Outlet Improvements Project EIS need decision
Location of public documents: Dakota County Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan, MN 55123

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Metropolitan Council Environmental Services, Leisa Thompson, 651-602-8101

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. 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 are due by 4:00 p.m. on the Tuesday one week prior to the intended publication date. Please see the EQB Monitor schedule for more details.

To submit a notice for publication:

Access the EQB monitor submission service

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].