Weekly announcements and environmental review notices

Volume 48, Number 34                                                                                         August 20, 2024

Announcements

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.

North Star RNG Anaerobic Digester 

Location (city/township; county): Long Prairie; Todd
Process: Petition
Step: Responsible governmental unit assigned

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

Valkyrie Golf Course Corporation Project

Location (city/township; county): Home Brook Township; Cass
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: September 19, 2024

Project description: Valkyrie Golf Course Corporation is proposing to construct an 18 hole golf course with additional supporting golf course amenities, including a clubhouse, comfort station (herein referred to as "The Turn"), driving range, and maintenance facilities, on a previously undeveloped site in Cass County, Minnesota.

Location of public documents: Cass County Courthouse - Environmental Services,
303 Minnesota Ave W, Walker, MN 56484

Public meeting date, time, location: October 14, 2024, 9:35 a.m., October Cass County Planning Commission Meeting, 218 Washburn Avenue East, Backus, MN 56435

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Cass County, Scott Wold, 218-547-7256

US Distilled Products Storage Tank Expansion

Location (city/township; county): Princeton; Sherburne
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision

Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (EIS not ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: August 7, 2024

Project description: US Distilled Products is proposing to construct new storage tanks to support its spirits blending and bottling operation. The Project includes three components resulting in a net increase of approximately 120,753 gallons storage at the facility's existing, outdoor tank farm (A-Building Blending Facility and adjacent containment area); approximately 80,297 gallons storage at the facility's existing, indoor I-Building Blending Area; and the potential future addition of approximately 180,000 gallons of new storage tank capacity with a South Tank Farm and Outdoor Containment Area. In total, the Project would increase total hazardous material storage to over 1 million gallons at the USDP facility.

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

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
Doree Husnik, 651‐757‐2374

Rochester Technology Campus

Location (city/township; county): Rochester; Olmsted
Process: Large AUAR
Step: Draft order for review
End of comment period: September 19, 2024

Project description: IRG is proposing development of property surrounding the existing campus. The undeveloped portions of the property are largely grassland, wetland, and wooded to the north and west. To the south, the proposed development property is primarily agricultural. The surrounding uses are largely commercial to the north, industrial to the west, and residential to the south. To the best of the proposer’s knowledge, no previous traffic studies have been conducted on the property since the construction of the commercial area to the north including Target and Home Depot. The proposed development activity consists of commercial, retail, and hospitality to the east, largely residential to the south and north, and industrial to the west. The attached conceptual site plan identifies a series of proposed roads and pedestrian connections throughout that will be evaluated with this study.
Rochester Technology Campus project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Development Services and Infrastructure Center,
4001 West River Parkway NW, Rochester, MN 55901

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Rochester, Elliot Mohler,
507-328-2600

Mayo Clinic. Bold. Forward. Unbound. Rochester AUAR

Location (city/township; county): Rochester; Olmsted
Process: Large AUAR
Step: Revised AUAR
End of comment period: September 4, 2024

Project description: Mayo Clinic is proposing to redevelop approximately 20 acres located in downtown Rochester. The project is located in all or portions of 14 parcels, located in an area generally bounded by 2nd Street SW on the south, Civic Center Drive on the north, 7th Avenue on the west, and 1st Avenue on the east in Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota. The AUAR will evaluate 1 development scenario that involves multiple buildings totaling approximately 1,970,000 square feet of medical institutional and 90,000 sf of electric generating land uses.

Location of public documents: City of Rochester, 4001 West River Pkwy, Rochester,
MN 55901

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Rochester, Elliot Mohler,
507‐328‐2941

Rosemount Industrial AUAR Update

Location (city/township; county): Rosemount; Dakota
Process: AUAR update
Step: AUAR update adoption

Responsible governmental unit decision: Adequate
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: August 6, 2024

Project description: The Rosemount Industrial Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) study area encompasses approximately 235.2 acres of land located northwest of the intersection 145th Street East and Blaine Avenue in Rosemount, Minnesota. This report is intended to serve as an update to the 2023 AUAR, as the project has been acquired from Scannell Properties, LLC, by Project Shamrock. An additional scenario, Scenario 2, has been added to the development scenario. Scenario 2 includes up to four (4) million square feet of data center or technology park. Scenario 2 may consist of up to two-story buildings.
Rosemount Industrial AUAR Update project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Rosemount City Hall, 2875 145th Street West, Rosemount, MN 55068

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Rosemount, Anthony Nemcek,
651‐423‐4411

General notices

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

Opportunity for Public Comment on Northern Regional Landscape Plan

Notice description: The Minnesota Forest Resources Council (MFRC) Northern Regional Forest Resource Committee invites the public to review and comment on an update of the Northern Landscape Plan for sustainable forest resource management. The MFRC Northern Region encompasses Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, and the north half of Beltrami County. Please refer to the MFRC website for more information including a copy of the draft plan and details pertaining to an open house. We welcome comments or questions on the updated plan from Aug. 20 through Sept. 19.

Public meeting date, time, location: August 26, 2024, 10:00 a.m., Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, 1 Memorial Dr., International Falls, MN 56649
Public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Public meeting additional details: for audio only, United States (toll-free): 877-309-2073, access code: 307-668-869.

Link to additional information: Northern Regional Landscape Plan additional information

Contact: Minnesota Forest Resources Council, Jaimé Thibodeaux, 218-553-1522

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].