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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 49, Number 47                                                                                   November 25, 2025






Announcements

*EQB Public Board Member open positions*

Applications are now open for Environmental Quality Board Public Board Member positions representing Minnesota’s Congressional Districts 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8. Serving on our board provides a unique opportunity to shape environmental issues in Minnesota. Public Board Members bring the voices of Minnesotans from around the state into decision making, helping the Board think in new ways about environmental challenges and solutions. To learn more and apply, visit the EQB’s Open positions webpage [ [link removed] ]. Applications are open through February 13, 2026.

 

Minnesota congressional districts map





Black Bear cubs in autumn taken in northern MN in the wild




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] ].

 

*MBE, Inc. Buffalo Pit*

*Location:* Buffalo Township
*Process:* Petition
*Step:* RGU assignment

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Wright County, Barry Rhineberger <[email protected]>,
763-682-7338

 

*Owatonna East Side Corridor (29th Ave Corridor)* [ [link removed] ]

*This project notice was previously published in the November 18, 2025 "EQB" "Monitor" with the end of comment period listed as December 18. The comment period has been extended per the below.

*Location (city/township; county): *Owatonna; Steele
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *December 31, 2025

*Project description: *Construct a new north-south, two-lane county highway between SE 18th St in Owatonna Township to Kenyon Road in Clinton Falls Township with a bridge over Maple Creek. The Project will realign Claremont Road to the north to create more space between the new 29th Avenue/Claremont Road intersection and the Canadian Pacific railroad crossing. The Project includes American with Disabilities Act (ADA) elements, intersection control, and stormwater treatment. Trails for pedestrians and bicyclists will be constructed along the new highway between SE 18th St and 26th St NE and portions of SE 18th St and 26th Street NE, along with a connection to a trail on Rose St. Portions 26th St NE, Claremont Road, and SE 18th St will be reconstructed.
Owatonna East Side Corridor (29th Ave Corridor) project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Steele County Public Works Facility, 3000 Hoffman Drive NW, Owatonna, MN 55060

*Public meeting date, time, location: *December 11, 2025, 4:30 p.m., Owatonna City Hall, 540 W Hills Cir, Owatonna, MN 55060

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Steele County, Ronald Gaines <[email protected]>,
507-444-7671

 

Minnesota Power, Duluth Service Center [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Rice Lake; St. Louis
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *December 26, 2025

*Project description: *The project is a new utility service center to replace Minnesota Power's existing Herbert Service Center (HSC) in Duluth and provide more material storage space, more space to accommodate service vehicles, more space for employees, and address safety and security concerns at the existing site.

*Location of public documents:* Rice Lake City Hall, 4107 W Beyer Rd, Rice Lake,
MN 55803

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Rice Lake, Carley Hungerford <[email protected]>,
218-249-0947

 

Minnesota Riverbank Protection and Parks Integration [ [link removed] ]

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

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered) 
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *November 5, 2025

*Project description: *The Proposed Project involves the restoration of the Minnesota River stream bank in Shakopee, Minnesota. The riverbank throughout the project area is experiencing severe erosion, which is actively impacting the area's human cultural resources, river habitat, regional park systems, and critical public sanitary sewer utilities. The Proposed Project would protect city infrastructure, relocate the Minnesota State Valley Trail from flood impacts, enhance flood mitigation measures, and implement park improvements to better connect park users to the river.
Minnesota Riverbank Protection and Parks Integration project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Shakopee City Hall, 485 Gorman Street, Shakopee,
MN 55379

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Shakopee, Alex Jordan <[email protected]>,
952-233-9361

 

Downtown Duluth Alternative Urban Areawide Review [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Duluth; St. Louis
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Draft order for review
*End of comment period: *December 26, 2025

*Project description: *The City of Duluth is preparing an AUAR for an approximately 335 acre area encompassing the traditional downtown, Essentia Health Medical Campus and surrounding Hillside neighborhood, as well as the proposed “Lot D” development in the Bayfront area. The purpose of this AUAR is to prepare for infill or redevelopment of key sites within this broader area. Two development scenarios will be evaluated as part of the AUAR which include an existing conditions scenario and a maximum mixed use (commercial and residential) redevelopment scenario consistent with the City’s adopted Comprehensive Plan.
Downtown Duluth Alternative Urban Areawide Review project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Duluth City Hall, 411 West First Street, Duluth, MN 55802

*Public meeting date, time, location: *December 9, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Duluth City Hall,
411 West First Street, Council Chambers, Duluth, MN 55802

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Duluth, Jason Mozol <[email protected]>, 218-730-5331

 

Big Woods Business Park AUAR [ [link removed] ]

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

*Project description: *The AUAR study area encompasses an area totaling approximately 359 acres on 17 parcels in the City of Chaska and Dahlgren Township, Carver County, Minnesota. The study area is located northwest of Chaska Boulevard and US 212. Two parcels within the AUAR study area are located within Dahlgren Township; these parcels are intended to be annexed into the City of Chaska. Two development scenarios are proposed to be evaluated in the AUAR. Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 both include Business Park (industrial/office) and Commercial land uses.

*Location of public documents:* Chaska City Hall, 1 City Hall Plaza, Chaska, MN 55318

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Chaska, Elizabeth Hanson <[email protected]>,
952-448-9200

 

General notices

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

 

Notice of Complete Route Permit Application and Public Information Meeting - Otto Tap 115 kV Transmission Line Project

*Notice description: *Great River Energy and Lake Region Electric Cooperative (applicants) for a route permit for the Otto Tap 115 kV Transmission Line Project (Project) in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. The Applicants propose constructing a new 2.9-mile 115 kV single-circuit transmission line between Great River Energy's existing Perham to Rush Lake 115 kV transmission line and the new replacement Otto Substation. The applicants request generally a route width of 200 feet, with up to 750 feet around the substation and at the proposed crossing of U.S. Highway 10. The applicants indicate that the project will require a right-of-way of 100 feet. Structures utilized for the Project will be wood or steel, 70 to 90 feet tall, and placed 350 to 400 feet apart. The applicants anticipate construction to begin in the fall of 2027 with an in-service date of summer 2028.(Docket Number: ET2/TL-25-269)

*First public meeting date, time, location: *December 3, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
**First public * meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
**First public * meeting additional details:* Webinar Number: 2480 264 5675
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Access Code: 2480 264 5675

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *December 4, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Otto Township Town Hall, 50453 County Hwy 14, New York Mills, MN 56567
*Second public meeting additional details:* 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. (Open House)

*Contact: *Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Suzanne Steinhauer, <[email protected]>, 651-201-2253

 

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] ] *

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