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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 49, Number 29                                                                                               July 22, 2025






Deer Fawns on the Oronoco Prairie in Southeast Minnesota




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] ].

 

Quarterdeck Expansion [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Fairview Township; Cass
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *August 21, 2025

*Project description: *Leisure Hotels and Resorts is proposing construction of an expansion to the existing Quarterdeck Resort site located in Fairview Township, Cass County, Minnesota. The project will include the construction of 13 homes, a maintenance yard with a new shop, and associated infrastructure.

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

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Cass County, Scott Wold <[email protected]>, 218-547-7256

 

Greco Redevelopment Project - 150 Thompson Ave E. West St. Paul [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *West St. Paul; Dakota
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Negative (no EIS ordered) 
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *July 14, 2025

*Project description: *Greco Properties, LLC (Greco) is proposing to redevelop the former West St. Paul YMCA property at 150 Thompson Avenue East, and adjacent city-owned properties, in West St. Paul, Minnesota. The Project will include 475 market rate multifamily residential units, 27 townhome units, a retail/event center, and park/open space areas with public amenities including an outdoor turf amphitheater. The Project is located in the southeast quadrant of Thompson Avenue East and South Robert Street. The Project Area includes 14 acres of city-owned land including the former YMCA and Auto Zone properties in addition to adjacent vacant properties.

*Location of public documents:* City of West St. Paul City Hall, 1616 Humboldt Ave, 
West St. Paul, MN 55118

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of West St. Paul, Benjamin Boike <[email protected]>,
651-552-4140

 

City of Empire - Northwest Alternative Urban Areawide Review [ [link removed] ]

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

*Project description: *The AUAR Study Area encompasses an area totaling approximately 3,293 acres on 66 parcels in the City of Empire, Dakota County, Minnesota. The AUAR Study Area is envisioned as an opportunity to enhance a strategic planning approach to future development for the City of Empire. Three scenarios are proposed for evaluation in the AUAR. Scenario 1 (Sports Complex) and Scenario 2 (Town Center) include the development of low-density residential, medium-density residential, high-density residential, mixed-density residential, mixed-use, commercial, industrial, and greenway/trail land uses within the AUAR Study Area. Scenario 3 focuses on future land use as outlined in the City of Empire 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
City of Empire - Northwest Alternative Urban Areawide Review project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Empire City Hall, 3385 197th Street, Empire, MN 55024

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Empire, Charles Seipel-Teng <[email protected]>,
651-463-4494

 

Cannon Falls Industrial AUAR [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Cannon Falls; Dakota, Goodhue
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Revised AUAR
*End of comment period: *August 5, 2025

*Project description: *The AUAR study area encompasses an area totaling approximately 251 acres on 5 parcels in the City of Cannon Falls and Randolph Township, Goodhue and Dakota Counties, Minnesota. MNLCO Dakota County Two, LLC & MNLCO Dakota County Three, LLC is proposing to develop the study area from existing farmland to industrial or technology park uses. Two scenarios are proposed for evaluation in the AUAR. Scenario 1 includes multiple buildings for a total of 1,750,000 square feet of a proposed industrial development. Scenario 2 includes multiple buildings for a total of 1,750,000 square feet of technology park. The proposed development within the AUAR study area is anticipated to begin construction in 2026.
Cannon Falls Industrial AUAR project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Cannon Falls City Hall, 918 River Rd, Cannon Falls,
MN 55009

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Cannon Falls, Jon Radermacher <[email protected]>,
507-263-9304

 

Dakota East Area AUAR [ [link removed] ]

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

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Adequate
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *July 15, 2025

*Project description: *The AUAR study area encompasses an area totaling approximately 447 acres on 8 parcels in Rosemount, Dakota County, Minnesota. MNLCO Dakota County, LLC is proposing to develop the study area from existing farmland to a one of the scenarios being proposed. Three scenarios are proposed for evaluation in the AUAR. Scenario 1 proposes uses that are consistent with the Rosemount Comprehensive Plan, which includes 1,450 residential units and commercial buildings for a total of 500,000 square feet. It is anticipated that some of the 229 acres will remain in agricultural land as part of Scenario 1. Scenario 2 includes multiple buildings for a total of 2,300,000 square feet for mixed business campus uses. Scenario 3 includes multiple buildings for a total of 2,500,000 square feet for mixed-business campus, involving light industrial uses. The proposed development within the AUAR study area is anticipated to begin construction in 2025.
Dakota East Area AUAR project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Rosemount City Hall, 2875 145th St W, Rosemount,
MN 55068

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Rosemount, Anthony Nemcek <[email protected]>,
651-423-4411

 

Lino Lakes Main Street AUAR [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Lino Lakes; Anoka
*Process: *AUAR
*Step: *Revised AUAR
*End of comment period: *August 5, 2025

*Project description: *Two development scenarios evaluated in this AUAR. Development within the study area may start as early as Spring 2026 and will be constructed over multiple phases over the next 30+ years, depending on the market. Scenario 1 is the city’s existing 2040 Comprehensive Plan and focuses on higher-density and commercial development along both sides of Main Street, with lower-density residential development to the north and south. Medium-density housing would bridge the space between the high-density areas and the low-density areas. Scenario 2 centralizes higher- and medium-density housing and commercial development near the Lino Lakes/Blaine border around the Main Street and Sunset Avenue, with low-density prioritized on the eastern side of the study area, backing up to existing Lino Lakes housing.
Lino Lakes Main Street AUAR project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Lino Lakes City Hall, 600 Town Center Pkwy, Lino Lakes, MN 55014

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Lino Lakes, Michael Grochala <[email protected]>,
651-982-2427

 

General notices

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

 

Notice of Environmental Assessment Scoping Decision - Castle Rock Solar Project

*Notice description: *The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) has issued the scoping decision for the environmental assessment (EA) that will be prepared for the proposed Castle Rock Solar Project - an up to 150 MW alternating current photovoltaic solar energy generating facility in Dakota County, Minnesota. The EA will be prepared by the Commission's Energy Infrastructure Permitting 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. The EA is scheduled to be completed in October 2025. Public hearings will be held in the project area after the EA is complete and available for public review. These hearings will be noticed separately.

**Link to additional information: **Castle Rock Solar additional information [ [link removed] ]

*Contact: *Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Lauren Agnew <[email protected]>, 651-201-2198

 

Notice of Final Permit Decision for the Iron Pine Solar Project in Pine County, Minnesota

*Notice description: *The Public Utilities Commission In the Matter of the Application of Iron Pine Solar Power for a Site Permit for the up to 325-Megawatt Iron Pine Solar Energy Generating System and for a route permit for the 230-Kilovolt approximately 1-mile transmission line in Pine County, Minnesota - Public Utilities Commission Docket Nos. IP7114/GS-23-414 & TL-23-415. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in an order issued on July 15, 2025, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission: (1) Adopted the ALJ's Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendations; (2) Found that the environmental assessment prepared by the Department of Commerce and the record created at the public hearing addressed the issues identified in the scoping decision; (3) Issued to Iron Pine Solar a site permit for an up to 325-Megawatt solar energy generating system and; (4) Issued to Iron Pine Solar Power a route permit for its 230-Kilovolt approximately 1-mile transmission line.

**Link to additional information: **Iron Pine Solar Project additional information [ [link removed] ]

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

 

Site Permit for Elm Creek Wind II, LLC 150 MW Project in Martin & Jackson Counties

*Notice description: *PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public information meetings on the permit amendment requested by Elm Creek Wind II, LLC (Elm Creek) to repower its existing Elm Creek Wind II facility. The facility was originally permitted by the Public Utilities Commission on February 25, 2010. Elm Creek Wind II, LLC is requesting site permit amendments to increase the facility's efficiency and energy output, as well as to extend the permit term and operational life of the facility. The proposed changes will consist of retrofitting existing equipment and will not include changes to the turbine locations, MET tower, or substation. The full notice for this meeting can be found online at [link removed] by typing in the docket number, 09-553, and selecting the PUC Notice.

*First public meeting date, time, location: *August 5, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Jackson National Guard Armory, 108 County Hwy 51, Jackson, MN 65143

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *August 6, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting*
**Second public meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Second public meeting additional details:* Time: 6:00 to 8:30 PM or until there are no more questions or comments
Webinar Number: 2481 621 5451
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2481 621 5451

*Contact: *Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Sam Lobby <[email protected]>, 651-201-2205

 

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].


















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