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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 50, Number 5                                                                                        February 3, 2026











North Shore Minnesota during sea smoke on a polar vortex, winter Lake Superior




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] ].

 

Community Health & Wellness Center

*Location: *Bloomington; Hennepin County
*Process: *Petition
*Step: *Responsible governmental unit assigned

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Bloomington, Nick Johnson <[email protected]>,
952-563-8920

 

Rethinking I-94 [ [link removed] ]

*This project notice was published in the January 6, 2026 "EQB" "Monitor". An additional public meeting has been added.

*Location (city/township; county): *Minneapolis and St. Paul; Hennepin, Ramsey
*Process: *EIS
*Step: *EIS Scoping EAW and Draft Scoping Decision
*End of comment period: *March 9, 2026

*Project description: *MnDOT is providing notice of the Scoping Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for Rethinking I-94. The agency will be preparing a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for improvements on a 7.5-mile length of I-94 between the I-35W and Hwy 55 interchange in Minneapolis and Marion Street in St. Paul.

The Tier 1 EIS will analyze the program area on a broad scale and identify a preferred design for the I-94 mainline and will identify alternatives where access changes are proposed. Potential impacts will be identified around these locations. A program of construction projects will be identified for future environmental documents.

Federal environmental review documents for this project are available as a separate document and has been published as a General Notice. Additional information about the project is available in the Scoping Document (SD), which is available as a separate document. While the SD and EAW have similar information, there are slight differences in the social, economic, and environmental content. Documents can be downloaded from the project website, which also lists locations for in-person review and methods for providing comments.
Rethinking I-94 project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* MnDOT Metro District Office, 1500 County Road B2 W,
Roseville, MN 55113

*First public meeting date, time, location: *January 29, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Wilder Center,
451 Lexington Parkway N, Saint Paul, MN 55104
*First public meeting additional details:* Meeting duration: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *February 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Online meeting
*Second public meeting virtual link:  *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Second public meeting additional details:* Registration is required for the virtual meeting and can be submitted on the project website: [link removed]. Meeting duration: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

*Third public meeting date, time, location: *February 19, 2026*, *5:30 p.m.*, *Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Parkway N, Saint Paul, MN 55104
*Third public meeting additional details:* Meeting duration: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Department of Transportation -  Metro District, Mark Lindeberg <[email protected]>, 651-775-5485

 

General Waste Landfill Conversion [ [link removed] ]

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

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered) 
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *January 22, 2026

*Project description: *General Waste & Recycling, LLC proposes to convert two cells of its existing landfill to accept less than 100,000 cubic yards of municipal solid waste per year. The landfill is currently permitted to accept industrial solid waste and construction and demolition debris. The Project will not increase the footprint of the existing permitted facility.

*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

 

Brooklyn Park NW Growth Area Plan [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Brooklyn Park; Hennepin
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Draft order for review
*End of comment period: *March 5, 2026

*Project description: *The Study Area is located in Section 6 and 7, Township 119N, Range 21W in Brooklyn Park, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The proposed development scenario would include the development of the Study Area including residential, commercial, transit-oriented development, and biotechnology development including research, office, production, and manufacturing space. The development scenario would also include the construction of infrastructure including roads and utilities.
Brooklyn Park NW Growth Area Plan project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Brooklyn Park City Hall, 5200 85th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Brooklyn Park, Erin McDermott <[email protected]>,
763-493-8082

 

Monticello Industrial [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Monticello Township; Wright
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *AUAR adoption

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Adequate
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *January 27, 2026

*Project description: *This AUAR study area encompasses an area totaling approximately 550 acres on 16 parcels in Monticello Township, Wright County, Minnesota. The study is comprised of land generally located south of 85th St NE, west of Edmonson Ave NE, and east of Davidson Ave NE. Two development scenarios are evaluated in the AUAR.
Monticello Industrial project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* City of Monticello, 505 Walnut Street, Monticello,
MN 55362

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Monticello, Angela Schumann <[email protected]>,
763-271-3224

 

Iron Range - St. Louis County - Arrowhead 345kV Transmission Line Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location: *Floodwood, Itasca, St. Louis
*Process: *Alternative review
*Notice title: *NOTICE OF COMPLETE APPLICATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION AND SCOPING MEETINGS

*Notice description: *The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public information and scoping meetings on the route permit application for the Iron Range – St. Louis County – Arrowhead 345 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Project. The purpose of the public meetings is to provide information about the proposed project and the state's permitting process, and to accept public comments. Public comments will help determine the need for and scope of an addendum to the environmental assessment included in the application, the need for special permit conditions, and the scope of an Environmental Report to be prepared by Commission staff. Alternative meeting dates and times are provided in the notice in the case of cancellations due to inclement weather. To find out if a meeting is canceled, call (toll-free) 1-855-731-6208 or 651-201-2213, or visit mn.gov/puc. 

*Project description: *Minnesota Power and American Transmission Company, LLC propose to construct approximately 67.5 miles of transmission line from Minnesota Power's Iron Range Substation near Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Minnesota Power's St. Louis County Substation near Hermantown, Minnesota, with a connection to American Transmission Company's nearby Arrowhead Substation along portions of Itasca and St. Louis Counties. The route proposed is located along, and in some cases replaces, existing high-voltage transmission lines for 92 percent of its length. New transmission lines will be required to connect the existing substations in Grand Rapids and Hermantown. Existing substations would also require expansions.
Iron Range - St. Louis County - Arrowhead 345kV Transmission Line Project project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Pl E,
Ste 350, Saint Paul, MN 55101

*First public meeting date, time, location: *February 10, 2026, 5:00 p.m., Aad Shrine
Meeting and Event Center, 5152 Miller Trunk Hwy, Hermantown, MN 55811
*First public meeting additional details:* 5:00 p.m. (doors open pre-meeting hour)
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (formal meeting)

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *February 11, 2026, 11:00 a.m., Downtown Fair Center, 107 W. 7th Ave, Floodwood, MN 55736
*Second public meeting additional details:* 11:00 a.m. (doors open pre-meeting hour) 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (formal meeting)

*Third Public meeting date, time, location: *February 11, 2026, 5:00 p.m., Timberlake Lodge, 144 SE 17th Street, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
*Third Public meeting additional details:* 5:00 p.m. (doors open pre-meeting hour)
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (formal meeting)

*Fourth public meeting date, time, location: *February 12, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
*Fourth public meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Fourth public meeting additional details:* Webinar Number: 2486 574 7269
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2486 574 7269

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Emily Johnson <[email protected]>, 651-539-1023

 

General notices

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

 

Rethinking I-94

*This general notice was published in the January 6, 2026 "EQB" "Monitor". An additional public meeting has been added.

*Notice description: *MnDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are providing notice of the Scoping Document and Draft Scoping Decision Document (SD/DSDD) for Rethinking I-94. The agencies will be preparing a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for improvements on a 7.5-mile length of I-94 between the I-35W and Hwy 55 interchange in Minneapolis and Marion Street in St. Paul.

The Tier 1 EIS, which begins after scoping is completed, will analyze the program area on a broad scale and identify a preferred design for the I-94 mainline and will identify alternatives where access changes are proposed. Potential impacts will be identified around these locations. A program of construction projects will be identified for future environmental documents.

A scoping Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for this project is available as a separate document. While the SD and EAW have similar information, there are slight differences in the social, economic, and environmental content. The public has 60 days, from Jan. 6, 2026, to March 9, 2026, to review and make comments on the SD/DSDD. Documents can be downloaded from the project website, which also lists locations for in-person review and methods for providing comments: [link removed]

*First public meeting date, time, location: *January 29, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Wilder Center,
451 Lexington Parkway N, Saint Paul, MN 55104
*First public meeting additional details:* Meeting duration: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *February 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Online meeting
*Second public meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Public meeting additional details:* Registration is required for the virtual meeting and can be submitted on the project website at [link removed]. Meeting duration: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

*Third public meeting date, time, location: *February 19, 2026*, *5:30 p.m.*, *Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Parkway N, Saint Paul, MN 55104
*Third public meeting additional details:* Meeting duration: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

*Link to additional information: *Rethinking I-94 additional information [ [link removed] ]

*Contact: *Minnesota Department of Transportation -  Metro District, Mark Lindeberg <[email protected]>,
651-775-5485

 

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

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