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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 49, Number 14                                                                                               April 8, 2025






Announcements

 

Environmental Quality Board meeting

*Wednesday, April 16, 1 – 4:00 p.m.
*Join us in person or virtually for the April 2025 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the board will hear about the progress of the 2025 Pollinator Report. The board will also vote on EQB by-laws and on moving forward and developing an environmental review mandatory category for gas production.

More information, including the meeting packet and virtual meeting details, can be found on the board meeting webpage [ [link removed] ].

 

*Environmental Review Technical Assistance Survey*

If you’ve completed an environmental review process since January 1, 2025 and submitted a notice for the Monitor, we want to hear from you! Tell us how we’re doing providing guidance and assistance by taking this short five-question survey [ [link removed] ]. Your responses are for EQB use only and will help us provide better assistance for you in the future.

 

Environmental Review 101 Webinar

Want to build a better understanding of the basics of environmental review? Join us
Thursday, April 17, 10-11:00 a.m. Register today [ [link removed] ]!
This webinar is ideal for new environmental review practitioners in local government, or
anyone seeking a refresher on Minnesota’s Environmental Policy Act. Learn about when
environmental review is required and the general process for completing Environmental
Assessment Worksheets (EAW), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), and Alternative
Urban Areawide Reviews (AUAR). Meet EQB staff, ask questions, and join us in building a
community of practice in Minnesota.

 

Feedback on draft greenhouse gas emission calculator

The EQB has contracted with ICF to create a greenhouse gas emission calculator to answer questions 7 and 18 on the environmental assessment worksheet (EAW). We want your feedback on the draft calculator regarding bugs, calculations, general approach, etc., or other ideas you might have. You can access a copy of the calculator by emailing Steph Aho at [email protected] <[email protected].> and submit feedback at
Engagement HQ  [ [link removed] ]by April 18, 2025.






Glow of early morning sunlight illuminates behind a lake and a forest for the dawn of a new day




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] ].

 

Buck’s Mill Dam Modification [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Lake View Township; Becker
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*Joint federal and state review: *Yes
*End of comment period: *May 8, 2025

*Project description: *The Pelican River Watershed District in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR) intends to modify the Buck's Mill Dam along the Pelican River in Becker County, Minnesota, to improve fish passage and ecological health, supporting the MnDNR "Reconnect the Red" initiative. Modifications include replacing the box culvert under Bucksmill Drive raising the road elevation, removing the walkway and Kingsbury Lock for safety, and enhancing the spillway with rock riffles.
Buck’s Mill Dam Modification project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Pelican River Watershed District, 211 Holmes Street West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Pelican River Watershed District, 
Tera Guetter <[email protected]>, 218-846-0436

 

South Branch Wild Rice River Rock Arch Rapids Restoration Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Ulen Township; Clay
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *May 8, 2025

*Project description: *The Wild Rice Watershed District proposes to install a series of rock arch rapids within a 13-mile stretch of the South Branch Wild Rice River from the town of Ulen downstream to County Road 110 in Clay County, Minnesota. The proposed project is an effort to restore the river's connection with its floodplain, thereby reducing flood damage, erosion, and sediment transport, as well as restore floodplain habitats and provide continued fish passage.
South Branch Wild Rice River Rock Arch Rapids Restoration Project project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,
500 Lafayette Road, Saint Paul, MN 55155

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Caroline Oswald <[email protected]>, 651-259-5655

 

DCM Farms [ [link removed] ]

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

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered) **
***Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *March 11, 2025

*Project description: *Sundance Woods, LLC is proposing the DCM Farms project (Project) on approximately 91 acres south of 117th Avenue North and west of Fernbrook Lane in the City of Dayton (City). The Project includes approximately 267 detached residential homes and approximately 43,680 square feet of commercial and retail uses (including an approximately 10,000 square foot convenience store). The City's planned realignment of 113th Avenue North (approximately 800 feet north of the current 113th Avenue North /Fernbook Lane intersection), to connect to the future, planned roundabout at 114th Avenue North/Fernbrook Lane, is included in the review of the Project. It is anticipated that construction would begin in Spring 2025. Completion of the Project would be governed by market demand.
DCM Farms project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Dayton City Hall, 12260 S. Diamond Lake Road, Dayton, MN 55327

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Dayton, Hayden Stensgard <[email protected]>,
763-712-3221

 

Sabin S. Murdock House Demolition Project [ [link removed] ]

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

***Responsible governmental unit decision: ***Negative (no EIS ordered) ***
****Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *March 31, 2025

*Project description: *The Sabin S. Murdock House Demolition Project in Murdock, MN is a project that will consist of the demolition of the Sabin S. Murdock house at 631 Clara Avenue, clean-up and disposal of debris, backfilling the hole left after demolition, leveling the land, and planting grass to expand the public park that is established in the parcel. The demolition of the house will be completed by a local demolition company in the week of April 28 - May 2, 2025.

*Location of public documents:* Murdock City Hall, 300 Frederick Street, Murdock,
MN 56271

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Murdock, Kim Diederich <[email protected]>,
320-875-2112

 

North Mankato Industrial AUAR [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *North Mankato; Nicollet
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Draft AUAR
*End of comment period: *May 8, 2025

*Project description: *The North Mankato Industrial AUAR study area encompasses an area of approximately 678 acres on 16 parcels within Nicollet County, Minnesota. Project Deacon, LLC is proposing to develop the study area from existing farmland to technology park or office/warehouse use. Two scenarios, Scenarios 1 and 2, are proposed for evaluation in the AUAR. Scenario 1 includes multiple buildings for a total of 4 million square feet of proposed technology park development. Scenario 2 includes multiple buildings for a total of 4 million square feet of proposed office/warehouse development. The proposed development within the AUAR study area is anticipated to begin in 2025.
North Mankato Industrial AUAR project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* North Mankato City Hall, 1001 Belgrade Ave, North Mankato, MN 56002

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of North Mankato, Mike Fischer <[email protected]>,
507-625-4141

 

Legacy Bay Farms [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Saint Michael; Wright
*Process: *AUAR update
*Step: *Revised AUAR
*End of comment period:* April 22, 2025

*Project description: *The Capstone AUAR area covers ±560 acres within the City of St. Michael, Minnesota. The AUAR area includes most of the shoreline of Uhl Lake (DNR public water 86-17P). The AUAR area is located south of CSAH 35 (30th Street NE), mostly west of Jamison Avenue NE, north of CSAH 34 (10th Street NE), and east of Iffert Avenue NE. The City of St. Michael adopted the AUAR and Mitigation Plan on March 24th, 2020. This report is intended to serve as an update of the 2020 AUAR, an update on the development status, an update to the environmental analysis as necessary, and a review of mitigation measures. The current site plan includes 1,219 homes (including 229 detached townhomes), two public parks, an athletic complex, neighborhood parks, interior roads, stormwater features, and open space. The 40 acres north of the future athletic complex were anticipated to be developed into commercial space at the time of the 2020 AUAR.

*Location of public documents:* St. Michael City Website, 11800 Town Center Drive NE, Saint Michael, MN 55376

*Public meeting date, time, location: *April 22, 2025, 7:00 p.m., City Hall, 11800 Town Center Drive NE, Saint Michael, MN 55376
*Public meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of St. Michael, Marc Weigle <[email protected]>,
763-416-7932

 

Benton Solar Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location: *Minden Township, Benton
*Process: *Alternative review

*Notice title: *Notice of Environmental Scoping Decision - Benton Solar Project
*Notice description: *Please take notice that the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Department) has issued the scoping decision for the environmental assessment (EA) that will be prepared for the proposed Benton Solar Project. The EA will be prepared by the Department's Energy Environmental Review and Analysis staff and will address the potential human and environmental impacts of the project. The scoping decision identifies those issues that will be studied, as well as those that will not be addressed.

*Project description: *Benton Solar, LLC, a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, is requesting a site permit for the Benton County Solar Project, a 100 megawatt (MW) alternating current nameplate capacity solar energy conversion facility paired with a 100 MW battery energy storage system and associated facilities to be located in Minden Township, Benton County, Minnesota. The project will also include a 115 kilovolt, 0.4 mile long transmission line to deliver energy from the project to the electric grid.
Benton Solar Project project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Golden Rule Building, 85 7th Place Saint Paul, MN 55101

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Department of Commerce - Energy Environmental Review and Analysis, Logan Hicks <[email protected]>, 651-539-2712

 

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.

*Date*



*Location*



*County*



*Waterbody*



*Species*



*Count*



3/28/2025



Le Center



Sibley



Clear Lake



Not specified



100+



 

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] ] *

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