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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 49, Number 33                                                                                         August 19, 2025






Announcements

*Environmental Quality Board meeting*

*Wednesday, August 20, 1 – 4:00 p.m.
*Join us in person or virtually for the August 2025 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the board will hear an update on the Energy Rulemaking Notice and will vote on approval of the 2025 Groundwater Policy Report. The board will also vote on the FY26 Workplan and hear student-led presentations from the summer youth program, Roots for the Future.

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






Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) soaring gracefully, isolated on a blue sky.




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] ].

 

338 Broadway Avenue Albert Lea Building Demolition [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Albert Lea; Freeborn
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *September 18, 2025

*Project description: *The City of Albert Lea is proposing the demolition of a building, located downtown at 338 Broadway Avenue South. This building is owned by the City, and is currently vacant, but is located within the National Register of Historic Places listed Albert Lea Commercial Historic District. The structure is structurally deficient, unsafe, and uninhabitable.
338 Broadway Avenue Albert Lea Building Demolition project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* City Of Albert Lea City Hall, 221 Clark St. East, Albert Lea, MN 56007

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Albert Lea, Wayne Sorensen <[email protected]>,
507-377-4340

 

Pebble Creek Development [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Rochester; Olmsted
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *September 18, 2025

*Project description: *The proposed project consists of the construction of new single-family residential development abutting the south and west sides of the existing Pebble Creek development approved in 2004. The previous phases of the development were included in a previously approved 2007 Environmental Assessment Worksheet. The combination of approximately 443 lots and units on the undeveloped portion of Pebble Creek. The development plans include residential homes, public and private roadways, public utilities, private and public parkland, stormwater facilities, and environmental corridors. The proposed unit count per acre is approximately 2.5 units per acre which is consistent with the targeted density range noted in the the City of Rochester's 2018 Planning 2 Succeed Comprehensive Plan as adopted by the Rochester City Council.

*Location of public documents:* Development Services and Infrastructure Center,
4001 W River Parkway Suite 100, Rochester, MN 55901

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Rochester, Elliot Mohler <[email protected]>,
507-328-2600

 

Proposed Denmark Township Aggregate Quarry [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Denmark Township; Washington
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *September 18, 2025

*Project description: *Cemstone is proposing a new 750,000 ton per year (TPY) aggregate quarry operation in Denmark Township, Washington County, Minnesota that will excavate, process, and transport rock product from the site to primarily Cemstone's local network of ready-mix concrete plants along with outside sales for production of construction-grade concrete. The total leased Project area is a 179.4-acre site on a private-owned property west of St. Croix Trail South and south of Afton Apple Orchard. A 71.5-acre quarry is proposed within the total leased Project area.
Proposed Denmark Township Aggregate Quarry project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Denmark Township Office, 14008 90th Street South, 
Hastings, MN 55033

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Denmark Township, John Strohfus <[email protected]>,
651-436-1704x2

 

Highway 243 Osceola Bridge Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Franconia Township; Chisago
*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: *July 10, 2025

*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,
1500 County Rd B2 W, Roseville, MN 55113

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

 

Litchfield AD1 [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Forest City; Meeker
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision

***Responsible governmental unit decision: ***Negative (no EIS ordered) 
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *August 12, 2025

*Project description: *Vanguard Organics, LLC (Vanguard) proposes construction and operation of the Litchfield AD1 Facility (Project) which would include two anaerobic digesters, storage buildings, and other necessary infrastructure within a lease area on the Wagner Dairy Farm, northeast of the intersection of 650th Avenue and 288th Street in Forest City Township, Minnesota. The goal of the Project is to take both manure from the Wagner Dairy Farm and food waste from other sources and convert these organic wastes into renewable natural gas, organic fertilizer, and bio-solids for animal bedding.
Litchfield AD1 project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*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,
Audrey Maass <[email protected]>, 218-302-6686

 

Lino Lakes Main Street AUAR [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Lino Lakes; Anoka
*Process: *AUAR
*Step: *AUAR adoption

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Adequate
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *August 12, 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.

*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

 

West End AUAR Update [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Saint Louis Park; Hennepin
*Process: *AUAR update
*Step: *Revised AUAR
*End of comment period: *September 3, 2025

*Project description: *The West End development is located on an approximately 49 acre site at the southwest corner of I-394 and Highway 100 in St. Louis Park, MN, with eastern portions of the site in Golden Valley, MN. The development to date includes a combination of residential, retail, and office buildings and parking structures. The city is updating the AUAR and Mitigation Plan, originally adopted in 2007 per Minnesota Rules, part 4410.3610, subpart 7.
West End AUAR Update project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

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

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

 

Lake Charlotte 150 MW Solar and Battery Energy Storage Project, dkts GS-25-206, ESS-25-205 [ [link removed] ]

*Location: *Rutland Township, Martin
*Process: *Alternative review
*End of comment period: *September 17, 2025

*Notice title: *NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SCOPING MEETINGS
*Notice description: *PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public information and environmental assessment (EA) scoping meetings on the joint site permit application of Lake Charlotte Solar, LLC (Lake Charlotte Solar), a wholly owned subsidiary of Geronimo Power, LLC (formally known as National Grid Renewables Development, LLC) to construct and operate an up to 150-megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) nameplate capacity solar energy conversion facility (Solar Facility), an associated 150 MWac/600-megawatt hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) (BESS Facility), and other associated facilities located in Martin County, Minnesota (the Lake Charlotte Solar and BESS Project, or Project).

*Project description: *The Project is located in Rutland Township in Martin County, Minnesota. The Project footprint is approximately 1,277 acres, of which approximately 1,004 acres will be used for the operation of the Project. The Project will include: solar modules (also referred to as panels or arrays); inverters; transformers; a tracking rack system; an electrical collection system; access roads; security fencing; security cameras and lighting; a collector substation; an operations and maintenance building; parking; stormwater retention ponds; weather stations; temporary laydown areas, a 161 kilovolt (kV) transmission generation tie-line; BESS Facility and associated equipment; and any ancillary equipment or buildings as necessary and typical of a solar farm. Lake Charlotte Solar has identified the existing Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) Rutland Substation as the point of interconnection (POI) for the Project.

*Location of public documents:* Martin County Library, 110 N Park St. Fairmont,
MN 56031

*First public meeting date, time, location: *August 28, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Fairmont Event Center, 1201 Torgerson Drive, Fairmont, MN 56031
**First public* meeting additional details:* The purpose of the meeting 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. Doors will open one hour prior to the in-person meeting to provide attendees an opportunity to review the application, maps, and other materials for the proposed project and ask questions of state staff and the applicant. During this time, comments made by attendees will become a part of the record for Commission consideration only if the attendee submits the comment in writing. Forms will be available for this purpose.
State staff and the applicant will both make presentations during the meeting. 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, or the scheduled end time of the meeting, whichever occurs first. The information presented will be the same at all 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 call 1-855-731-6208 or visit mn.gov/puc. Written comments will be accepted through Wednesday, September 17, 2025, by 4:30 p.m. Please include the docket number in all communications. Comments received after the close of the comment period may or may not be considered by the Commission.

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *September 2, 2025, 6:00 p.m.,
Online meeting
**Second public* meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
**Second public* meeting additional details: *Webinar Number: 2494 406 6452
Webinar Password: MNPUC (66782 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2494 406 6452
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 the PUC website [ [link removed] ]. The purpose of the meeting 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. Written comments will be accepted through Wednesday, September 17, 2025, by 4:30 p.m. Please include the docket number in all communications. Comments received after the close of the comment period may or may not be considered by the Commission. Topics for Comment: What potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project should be considered in the EA?  Are there any methods to minimize, mitigate, or avoid potential impacts of the proposed project that should be considered in the EA?  Are there any unique characteristics of the proposed project that should be considered in the EA? Written comments will be accepted through Wednesday, September 17, 2025, by 4:30 p.m. Please include the docket number in all communications. Comments received after the close of the comment period may or may not be considered by the Commission.

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Cezar Panait <[email protected]>, 651-201-2207

 

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*



8/11/2025



Oronoco



Olmsted



Zumbro Lake



Catfish



100+



8/11/2025



Fergus Falls



Otter Tail



Alice Lake



Pike, Carp, Sunfish, Crappie



1,000



8/11/2025



Mazeppa



Wabasha



Zumbro Lake



Bullhead, Catfish



30



8/11/2025



Spicer



Kandiyohi



George Lake



Crappie



30-40



 

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

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