Weekly announcements and environmental review notices

Volume 48, Number 33                                                                                         August 13, 2024

Announcements

2024 Environmental Congress We’re excited to announce the 2024 Minnesota Environmental Congress! This year’s Congress will be hosted by our board members and state agencies across four locations in Minnesota. We aim to gather Minnesotans to discuss local environmental issues and the actions being taken to address them. Participants will have a chance to hear from state agencies, then discuss with their neighbors and provide feedback on the state’s efforts. We look forward to seeing you there!   September 23rd – Brainerd, MN: Climate Resiliency and Adaptation  September 24th – St. Cloud, MN: Developing Minnesota’s Green Economy  September 25th – Saint Paul, MN: Climate Action Framework September 26th – Mankato, MN:  Managing Water Pollution   More information will be posted on the Environmental Congress webpage.

Environmental Quality Board meeting

Wednesday, August 21, 1 – 4:00 p.m.
Join us in person or virtually for the August 2024 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the Board will hear an update on Emerald Ash Borer agency and partner work, the Office of Enterprise Sustainability Report, and an update on plans for the Environmental Congress. The Board will also hear about and vote to approve the FY25 workplan.

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.

Progress Parkway Project

Location (city/township; county): Eveleth; St. Louis
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: September 12, 2024

Project description: St. Louis County proposes to extend Progress Parkway in the City of Eveleth for a total distance of approximately 1.3 miles. The new roadway would begin approximately 0.15 miles east of the intersection of Hwy 53/Progress Parkway and extend south to Hwy 37. The project includes stormwater and drainage improvements, a paved pedestrian/bicycle trail, and a gravel off-road vehicle trail along the new roadway. A secondary access to the Rock Ridge Public Schools campus will be connected to the new roadway. The Mesabi Mountain Off Road Vehicle (ORV) trailhead parking lot will be relocated to the east side of the new roadway. The EAW is available for public review and copying during business hours at the following locations: Eveleth Public Library, St. Louis County Planning and Zoning - Government Services Center, St. Louis County Public Works, and Eveleth City Hall Offices.
Progress Parkway Project project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: St. Louis County Public Works, 7823 Hwy 135, Virginia, MN 55792

Responsible governmental unit and contact: St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Department, Ryan Logan, 218‐471‐7622

Otter Tail to Wilkin Carbon Dioxide Project

Location (city/township; county): Fergus Falls; Otter Tail, Wilkin
Process: EIS
Step: Final EIS
End of comment period: September 11, 2024

Project description: The Otter Tail to Wilkin Project consists of approximately 28.1 miles of 4-inch diameter CO2 pipeline and associated facilities in portions of Wilkin and Otter Tail counties. The Project would capture CO2 from the Green Plains Ethanol Plant near Fergus Falls and transport it to the North Dakota and Minnesota border south of Breckenridge. The Project would interconnect to a larger proposed CO2 pipeline network, referred to as the Midwest Carbon Express Project, to transport the CO2 to a sequestration area in North Dakota.
Otter Tail to Wilkin Carbon Dioxide Project project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: 
Fergus Falls Public Library, 205 East Hampden Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Breckenridge Public Library 205 North Seventh Street, Breckenridge, MN 56520

First public meeting date, time, location: August 20, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Bigwood Event Center, 925 Western Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN, 56537
Second public meeting date, time, location: August 21, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
Second public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Second public meeting additional details: Webinar Number: 2490 693 0888
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 when dialing from a phone or video system)

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Andrew Levi, 651‐539‐1840

Thomson Reuters Redevelopment Project

Location (city/township; county): Eagan; Dakota
Process: Large AUAR
Step: Draft AUAR
End of comment period: September 12, 2024

Project description: Ryan Companies US, Inc. is preparing an AUAR for an approximately 179-acre area on the former Thomson Reuters office campus at Trunk Highway (TH) 149 (Dodd Road) and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 28 (Yankee Doodle Road) in Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota. Two development scenarios will be evaluated as part of the AUAR which include a major office scenario consistent with the City’s adopted Comprehensive Plan, and a light industrial and residential scenario. Today, the AUAR area consists of the mostly vacant Thomson Reuters office building, two existing data centers and associated infrastructure.
Thomson Reuters Redevelopment Project project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: City of Eagan City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan,
MN 55122

Public meeting date, time, location: August 26, 2024, 5:30 p.m., Eagan City Hall (Training Room), 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122
Public meeting additional details: Meeting will be held within the Training Room located on the first floor of City Hall.

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Eagan, Michael Schultz,
651‐675‐5650

Otter Tail Power Milbank Area Reliability Project

Location: Yellow Bank Township, Lac qui Parle
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: August 27, 2024

Notice title: Otter Tail Power Milbank Area Reliability Project
Notice description: Lac qui Parle County is the local governmental unit responsible for approval and permitting of the proposed Otter Tail Power Milbank Area Reliability Project in Yellow Bank Township. The proposed project involves building a new breaker station and constructing approximately four miles of new 115-kV transmission line from the South Dakota border to the breaker station. The new line and breaker station will be connected to an existing 115-kV transmission line running north to south through the county. The new transmission line would consist of single wood poles and the proposed route is mainly adjacent to existing road right-of-ways. The comment deadline is August 27, 2024.
Project description: Otter Tail Power Company (OTP) has requested local review, pursuant to Minnesota Statute Section 216E.05 Subsection 3 and Minnesota Rule 7850.5300 for the Minnesota portion of a 115-kV high voltage transmission line, new breaker station, and associated facilities located in Lac qui Parle County (Project). The Project will connect to an existing 115-kV transmission line owned by OTP. The proposed route for the transmission line will start from the South Dakota/Minnesota border at the intersection of 150th St and County Hwy 39/487th Ave and terminate approximately four miles to the east at the proposed new breaker station located between 131st Ave and County Rd 151, on 380th St, adjacent to OTP's existing 115-kV transmission line. OTP proposes to use 55- to 70-foot-tall wood structures with spans of approximately 250 to 350 feet. OTP is planning to obtain a 55-foot-wide permanent right-of-way, supporting the path of the 115-kV Project.
Otter Tail Power Milbank Area Reliability Project project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Lac qui Parle County Planning & Zoning, 600 6th Street, Madison, MN 56256

Public meeting date, time, location: September 3, 2024, 8:30 a.m., Lac qui Parle County Courthouse, 600 6th Street, Madison, MN 56256
Public meeting additional details: A public hearing to take comments will be held at the Board of County Commissioners meeting. The Board meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 8:30 in the Commissioners Room (2nd Floor, Courthouse) in Madison, MN.

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Lac qui Parle County Environmental Services, Trudy Hastad, 320‐598‐3117

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].