New_EQB_Logo




EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 48, Number 48                                                                                   November 26, 2024











Pink clouds look like a satin blanket covering the sky at sunset




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] ].

 

Highway 243 Osceola Bridge Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Franconia Township; Chisago
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *December 26, 2024
*Joint federal and state review: *Yes

*Project description: *The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), is proposing the replacement of the Highway (Hwy) 243 bridge over the St. Croix River in Franconia Township, Minnesota and the Village of Osceola, Wisconsin. The project also proposes reconstruction of an approximately 0.5-mile segment of Hwy 243 and construction of a shared-use path and completion of stormwater management improvements. The shared-use path is on the north side of Hwy 243 in Minnesota and Wisconsin and on the Hwy 243 bridge. Construction site preparation work is anticipated to begin in fall 2026. Bridge construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027, and the bridge will be closed until fall 2028. Bridge site cleanup work is anticipated in spring 2029.
Highway 243 Osceola Bridge Project project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* MnDOT Metro District Water's Edge Building (and seven more locations in MN and WI, see project website for other locations), 1500 County Road B2 W, Roseville, MN 55113

*Public meeting date, time, location: *December 10, 2024, 5:00 p.m., Osceola High School, 1111 Oak Ridge Drive, Osceola, WI 54020
*Public meeting additional details:* To afford an opportunity for all interested persons, agencies, and groups to comment on the EA/EAW, a public hearing has been scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in the cafeteria and large group instruction room at Osceola High School, 1111 Oak Ridge Drive. There will be a presentation at 5:30 p.m. Comments on the EA/EAW and/or Section 4(f) can be provided on a written comment card or verbally at the public hearing. Comments can also be submitted online through the comment form available online at the project website or via email to [email protected]. The EA/EAW and Section 4(f) comment period is open until December 26, 2024.

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Department of Transportation, Dmitry Tomasevich <[email protected]>, 651-245-4406

 

Voyageur Country ATV System Phase 2 [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Rainy Lake Unorganized Territory; Koochiching, 
St. Louis
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *December 26, 2024

*Project description: *The Voyageur Country ATV Club (VCATV) is proposing up to 125 additional miles of roadway and natural surface trail to be included in the Voyageur Country ATV System, connecting communities in Koochiching and St. Louis counties. The proposed project includes 39 possible miles of existing route, 78 possible miles of existing route with improvements, and 8 possible miles of new trail.
Voyageur Country ATV System Phase 2 project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Duluth Public Library, 520 West Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Kathy Metzker <[email protected]>, 651-259-5694

 

West End Office Park Development [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Saint Louis Park; Hennepin
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *December 26, 2024

*Project description: *The West End Office Park is a mixed-use redevelopment of an approximately 10-acre site east of Park Place Boulevard and north of Parkdale Drive in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. The proposed development includes four new buildings: two 6-story mixed-use buildings containing residential and commercial uses, a 13-story office building, a 20-story residential building, and surface and garage parking within each building.
West End Office Park Development project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* St Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of St Louis Park, Laura Chamberlain <[email protected]>, 952-924-2573

 

Schultz Mine Expansion [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Jordan; Scott
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *November 5, 2024

*Project description: *Pentagon Materials, Inc. operates an existing sand and gravel mine, the Schultz Mine, located in St. Lawrence Township, Scott County, MN. Pentagon proposes to expand the mine limits by 60 acres for a total mine area of 86 acres. Mine operations include topsoil and overburden removal, excavation, processing (screening, crushing, and washing), stockpiling, loading, hauling, recycling of concrete and asphalt, and reclamation. This environmental review encompasses both the existing mine and the proposed expansion area.
Schultz Mine Expansion project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

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

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Scott County, Ben Troop <[email protected]>, 952-496-8893

 

Trunk Highway 97 Improvement Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Forest Lake; Anoka, Washington
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision
*Joint federal and state review: *Yes

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *November 14, 2024

*Project description: *Improvements to Highway 97 in Washington and Anoka Counties from Hornsby Street NE to approximately 0.1 mile east of Forest Road N. Reconstruction of Highway 97 from a two-lane undivided rural highway to a primarily two-lane divided urban highway. The project includes construction of a single-lane roundabout at Fenway Ave N, a multiuse trail for pedestrians/bicyclists, dedicated right- and left-turn lanes at key intersections, intersection lighting, ADA accessibility, signal improvements, and stormwater treatment.
Trunk Highway 97 Improvement Project project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Metro District Right of Way Water's Edge Building,
1500 West Co. Rd B-2, Roseville, MN 55113

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Department of Transportation, Jeffrey Olson <[email protected]>, 651-234-7676

 

Haven Township Sand and Gravel Mine [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Haven Township; Sherburne
*Process: *EIS
*Step: *EIS Scoping EAW and Draft Scoping Decision
*End of comment period: *December 26, 2024

*Project description: *Holcim - MWR, Inc. proposes to develop a new 683-acre sand and gravel mine on property located in Haven Township, Sherburne County, MN. Mining operations will include removal of vegetation, topsoil and overburden, sand and gravel extraction, processing (crushing, washing, screening), recycling asphalt and concrete, stockpiling, loading, hauling, and site reclamation.
Haven Township Sand and Gravel Mine project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Sherburne County Government Center, 13880 Business Center Drive NW, Elk River, MN 55330

*Public meeting date, time, location: *December 17, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Sherburne County Historical Society, 10775 27th Ave SE, Becker, MN 55308

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Sherburne County, Lynn Waytashek <[email protected]>,
763-765-4461

 

Hampton Industrial AUAR [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Hampton; Dakota
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Final order for review

*Project description: *The AUAR study area encompasses an area totaling approximately 140 acres on seven parcels in the City of Hampton and Hampton Township, both of which are in Dakota County, Minnesota. Two scenarios are proposed for evaluation in the AUAR. Scenario 1 includes multiple buildings for a total of 400,000 square feet of industrial, 150,000 square feet of highway commercial development, and 3.4 million square feet of agricultural land. Scenario 2 includes multiple buildings for a total of 1.5 million square feet of proposed light industrial, technology park.
Hampton Industrial AUAR project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Hampton City Hall, 5265 238th St E, Hampton, MN 55031

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Hampton, John Knetter <[email protected]>,
651-437-8846

 

General notices

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

 

Snowshoe BESS, LLC Public Information & Environmental Assessment Scoping Meeting (24-279)

*Notice description: *In the Matter of the Application of Snowshoe BESS, LLC for a Site Permit for the up to 150 MW Snowshoe Energy Storage Project in Olmstead County, Minnesota. Docket Number: IP-7138/ESS-24-279 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) and Minnesota Department of Commerce (Commerce) will hold public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings on Snowshoe BESS, LLC's (applicant) site permit application for a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a nominal power rating of up to 150 megawatts (MW) alternating current (AC) with approximately 600 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy capacity in Kalmar Township, Olmsted County, Minnesota.
*
First public meeting date, time, location: *December 9, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Somerby Golf Club, 975 Somerby Parkway N.E., Byron, MN 55920
**First public * meeting additional details:* The purpose of the meetings is to: (1) provide information about the proposed project and the state's permitting process; and (2) provide an opportunity to participate in developing the scope of the environmental assessment. State staff and the applicant will both make presentations during the meetings. State staff will explain the permitting and environmental review processes, and the applicant will provide an overview of the proposed project. Following the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to offer oral and written comments for the record. The meetings will end when all attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded. The information presented will be the same at the in-person and online meetings. If any reasonable accommodation is needed to enable you to fully participate in these meetings, please contact the Commission at 651-296-0406 or 1-800-657-3782 at least one week in advance of the meeting. To find out if a meeting is canceled due to bad weather or other circumstances call 1-855-731-6208 or visit mn.gov/puc.
*Second public meeting date, time, location: *December 12, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
**Second public* meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
**Second public *meeting additional details:* Webinar Number: 2496 709 1440
Webinar Password: snowshoe2024 (76697464 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330 Toll Free Access Code: 2496 709 1440
If you are joining the meeting via WebEx and would like to ask a question or make a comment during the designated portion of the meeting, use the chat or raised-hand functions to send a message to the meeting moderator. If you are joining the meeting by phone, press *3 on your phone. When it is your turn to speak, your line will be unmuted, and you will be able to ask questions and provide comments. Additional information and instructions are available at: [link removed]

*Link to additional information: *Snowshoe BESS, LLC additional information [ [link removed] ]

*Contact: *MN Public Utilities Commission, Jacques Harvieux <[email protected]>, 651-201-2233

 

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.*

 

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

Facebook [ [link removed] ]   Twitter [ [link removed] ]   LinkedIn [ [link removed] ]   you tube [ [link removed] ] SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions [ [link removed] ]  |  Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]  |  Help [ [link removed] ]

Bookmark and Share [ [link removed] ]



body .abe-section-table {max-width:601px !important;} body .abe-column-block {min-height: 5px;} ________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota Environmental Quality Board · 520 Lafayette Road North, Saint Paul, MN 55155 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]