Weekly announcements and environmental review notices

Volume 48, Number 29                                                                                       July 16, 2024

Announcements

Environmental Quality Board meeting

Wednesday, July 17, 1 – 4:00 p.m. Join us in person or virtually for the July 2024 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the Board will hear an update on the greenhouse gas (GHG) calculator development, hear about feedback and vote to approve the strategic plan, and vote to approve the Tribal Policy.

More information, including the meeting packet and virtual meeting details, 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.

Smith Foundry

Location (city/township; county): Minneapolis, Hennepin
Process: Petition
Step: Responsible governmental unit assigned

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
Dan Card, 651-757-2261

Dem-Con HZI Bioenergy, LLC - Shakopee Campus

Location (city/township; county): Louisville Township; Scott
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: August 15, 2024

Project description: Dem-Con HZI Bioenergy, LLC (DCHZI) proposes the construction of an anaerobic digestion facility (Facility) with a design capacity for two anaerobic digesters to process up to 75,419 short tons per year of organic feedstock materials (Project). The feedstock materials will consist of source-separated organics in durable compostable bags, organic-rich materials, yard waste, and other food waste.
Dem-Con HZI Bioenergy, LLC - Shakopee Campus project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road North, Saint Paul, MN 55155

Public meeting date, time, location: August 5, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Jackson Town Hall, 1091 130th St., Shakopee, MN, 55379
Public meeting additional details: The MPCA will host a public meeting for community members on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Jackson Town Hall (1091 130th St. in Shakopee) to discuss the project in full detail. There will be an open house and brief presentation on the draft air permit and EAW.

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Katrina Hapka, 651-757-2418

MTL Companies CR 15 Development

Location (city/township; county): Big Lake; Sherburne
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: August 15, 2024

Project description: A 58.3-acre industrial development warehouse project is being proposed on a 63-acre parcel in the City of Big Lake, Sherburne County, Minnesota, located just west of County Road 15 and north of the Burlington Northern Railroad corridor. This development will include a stormwater pond, parking lots, two future warehouse buildings, one maintenance building, and a roadway.
MTL Companies CR 15 Development project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Big Lake City Hall, 160 Lake Street N, Big Lake, MN 55309

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Big Lake, Therese Haffner,
763-463-9638

New Market Light Industrial Park

Location (city/township; county): New Market Township; Scott
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: August 15, 2024

Project description: The Proposed Project will develop approximately 96-acres of existing agricultural land into a rural light industrial park with a range of lot sizes and a mix of uses. The industrial park will be platted into 26 lots that will be developed with buildings ranging in size from 10,000 to 75,000 square feet with outdoor storage uses.
New Market Light Industrial Park project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Scott County Government Center, 200 4th Ave W, Shakopee, MN 55379

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Scott County, Ben Troop, 952-496-8893

Con-Tech Manufacturing, Inc

Location (city/township; county): Dodge Center; Dodge
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision

Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (EIS not ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: July 9, 2024

Project description: Con-Tech Manufacturing is proposing to expand its current building footprint, which consists of 414,045 sq ft of warehousing and manufacturing buildings. Future growth plans show a potential for another 183,150 sq ft expansion in warehouse and manufacturing areas over the next 10 years.

Location of public documents: Dodge County Government Services Building, 721 Main Street North, Mantorville, MN 55955

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Dodge County Environmental Services, Lauren Cornelius, 507-635-6291

Northland Reliability Project – 345 kV High Voltage Transmission Line

Location: Brainerd, Aitkin, Benton, Crow Wing, Itasca, Morrison, Sherburne
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: August 5, 2024

Notice title: Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of Environmental Assessment
Notice description: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will hold public hearings on the joint Great River Energy and Minnesota Power application for a certificate of need and a route permit for a new 180‐mile 345 kV double‐circuit transmission line Northern Reliability Project. The project includes a new approximately 140‐mile long, double‐circuit 345 kV transmission line connecting Minnesota Power’s existing Iron Range Substation, and new Cuyuna Series Compensation Station, and Great River Energy’s existing Benton County Substation, while replacing a 20‐mile 230 kV line with a double‐circuit 345 kV transmission line from Great River Energy’s existing Benton County Substation to a new Xcel Energy Big Oaks Substation. Additionally, the project will replace a 20‐mile 345 kV line from Great River Energy’s existing Benton County Substation to the existing Xcel Energy Sherco Substation in Sherburne County using double‐circuit capable 345 kV structures.
Project description: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will hold public hearings on the application of Great River Energy and Minnesota Power for a certificate of need and a route permit for a new 180-mile 345 kV double-circuit transmission line project. The project includes a new approximately 140-mile long, double-circuit 345 kV transmission line connecting Minnesota Power's existing Iron Range Substation, Minnesota Power's new Cuyuna Series Compensation Station, and Great River Energy's existing Benton County Substation as well as replacing a 20-mile 230 kV line with a double-circuit 345 kV transmission line from Great River Energy's existing Benton County Substation to a new Xcel Energy Big Oaks Substation. Additionally, the project will replace a 20-mile 345 kV line from Great River Energy's existing Benton County Substation to the existing Xcel Energy Sherco Substation in Sherburne County using double-circuit capable 345 kV structures.
Northland Reliability Project – 345 kV High Voltage Transmission Line project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Minnesota Department of Commerce, 85 7th Place East Saint Paul, MN 55101

First public meeting date, time, location: July 22, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Spang Town Hall, 35402 Spang Road, Hill City, MN 55748
First public meeting additional details: This is an Administrative Hearing on the Northland Reliability Project Environmental Assessment. Doors open at 5:00pm. Formal hearing begins at 6:00pm until 8:00pm. Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Numbers: E015, ET2/CN-22-416; E01 5, ET2/TL-22-415 Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 21-2500- 39822 Written comments will be accepted through August 5, 2024, by 4:30p.m. Questions about these dockets or Commission process and procedure? Contact Commission staff, Craig Janezich at [email protected] or 651-201-2203.
Second public meeting date, time, location: July 23, 2024, 11:00 a.m., Brainerd High School Gichiziibi Center for the Arts, 702 South 5th, Brainerd, MN, 56401
Second public meeting additional details: This is an Administrative Hearing on the Northland Reliability Project Environmental Assessment. Doors open at 10:00am. Formal hearing begins at 11:00am until 1 :00pm. Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Numbers: E015, ET2/CN-22-416; E 015, ET2/TL-22-415 Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 21-250 0-39822 Written comments will be accepted through August 5, 2024, by 4:30 p.m. Questions about these dockets or Commission process and procedure? Contact Commission staff, Craig Janezich at [email protected] or 651-201-2203.
Third public meeting date, time, location: July 23, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Crosby‐Ironton Gym, 711 Poplar Street, Crosby, MN, 56441
Third public meeting additional details: This is an Administrative Hearing on the Northland Reliability Project Environmental Assessment. Doors open at 5:00pm. Formal hearing begins at 6:00pm until 8:0 0pm. Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Numbers: E015, ET2/CN-22-416; E01 5, ET2/TL-22-415 Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 21-2500- 39822 Written comments will be accepted through August 5, 2024, by 4:30 p.m. Questions about these dockets or Commission process and procedure? Contact Commission staff, Craig Janezich at [email protected] or 651-201-2203.
Fourth public meeting date, time, location: July 24, 2024, 11:00 a.m., Pierz Ballroom, 133 Main Street South, Pierz, MN, 56364
Fourth public meeting additional details: This is an Administrative Hearing on the Northland Reliability Project Environmental Assessment. Doors open at 10:00am. Formal hearing begins at 11:00am until 1 :00pm. Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Numbers: E015, ET2/CN-22-416; E 015, ET2/TL-22-415 Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 21-250 0-39822 Written comments will be accepted through August 5, 2024, by 4:30 p.m. Questions about these dockets or Commission process and procedure? Contact Commission staff, Craig Janezich at [email protected] or 651-201-2203.
Fifth public meeting date, time, location: July 24, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Palmer Township Hall, 4180 105th Avenue, Clear Lake, MN, 55319
Fifth public meeting additional details: This is an Administrative Hearing on the Northland Reliability Project Environmental Assessment. Doors open at 5:00pm. Formal hearing begins at 6:00pm until 8:0 0pm. Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Numbers: E015, ET2/CN-22-416; E01 5, ET2/TL-22-415 Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 21-2500- 39822 Written comments will be accepted through August 5, 2024, by 4:30 p.m. Questions about these dockets or Commission process and procedure? Contact Commission staff, Craig Janezich at [email protected] or 651-201-2203.
Sixth public meeting date, time, location: July 25, 2024, 11:00 a.m., Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Avenue North, Sauk Rapids, MN, 56379
Sixth public meeting additional details: This is an Administrative Hearing on the Northland Reliability Project Environmental Assessment. Doors open at 10:00am. Formal hearing begins at 11:00am until 1 :00pm. Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Numbers: E015, ET2/CN-22-416; E 015, ET2/TL-22-415 Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 21-250 0-39822 Written comments will be accepted through August 5, 2024, by 4:30p.m. Questions about these dockets or Commission process and procedure? Contact Commission staff, Craig Janezich at [email protected] or 651-201-2203.
Seventh public meeting date, time, location: July 26, 2024, 12:00 p.m., Online meeting
Seventh public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Seventh public meeting additional details: Webinar Number: 2483 087 1864 Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 when dialing from a phone or video system) Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330 Access Code: 2483 087 18 64 Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Numbers: E015, ET2/CN-22-416; E015, ET2/TL-22-415 Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 21-2500-39 822 Written comments will be accepted through August 5, 2024, by 4:30 p.m. Questions about these dockets or Commission process and procedure? Contact Commission staff, Craig Janezich at [email protected] or 651-201-2203.

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,  Craig Janezich, 651-201-2203

Xcel Energy’s Competitive Resource Acquisition Process

Location: St. Paul, Ramsey
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: July 29, 2024

Notice title: Notice of Comment Period - Environmental Report for Xcel Energy's Competitive Acquisition
Notice description: What potential human and environmental impacts should be evaluated in the environmental report to be prepared by the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Department) for Xcel Energy's competitive resource acquisition process for up to 800 megawatts of firm dispatchable generation?
Project description: Xcel Energy seeks to acquire up to 800 MW of firm dispatchable generation through a competitive resource acquisition process. Proposals from Xcel Energy, DESRI Renewable Energy Development, Invenergy Renewables, National Grid Renewable Development, Onward Energy Holdings, and Rondo Energy are under consideration.
Xcel Energy’s Competitive Resource Acquisition Process project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Minnesota Department of Commerce, 85 7th Place East St. Paul, MN 55101

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Suzanne Steinhauer, 651-539-1843

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.

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].