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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 50, Number 10                                                                                          March 10, 2026






Announcements

*EIS Scoping Rule – public comment opportunity*

The EQB has issued a Notice of Submission of Exempt Rules Proposed for Adoption Without a Public Hearing; Revisor's ID R-04978, CAH Docket Number 21-9008-41465, for the EIS scoping rule amendments. As a result of this notice, all interested persons have _five business days_ after the date of this notice to submit comments to the Court of Administrative Hearings via its eComments website [ [link removed] ] or to 600 North Robert Street, P.O. Box 64620, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-64620. You can submit your questions, comments, and feedback on the proposed rule to the administrative law judge assigned to this rulemaking. 

*Comment period opens March 11 and closes March 17, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.*

For more information on the rule and or the rulemaking process, please visit the EQB Rules and regulations webpage. [ [link removed] ]

 

Minnesota Capitol garden
City to City conversation on Pollinators Workshop

Learn details about how two Minnesota cities participate in pollinator-friendly programs and learn how to make your city more pollinator friendly at the City to City Pollinators Workshop. This workshop is geared towards city officials, staff, and volunteers.

*Date:* Thursday, March 12
*Time*: 12:00 – 1:15 p.m.
Register on Teams [ [link removed] ]



*Minnesota Environmental Review Climate Calculator v1.2*

The Minnesota Environmental Review Climate Calculator has been updated!  Based on user feedback, the calculator’s functionality has expanded to include quantitative mitigation, expanded wetland land types, and alternative calculation methods for some emission sources. The new version and accompanying documentation are available on EQB’s Climate assessments webpage [ [link removed] ]. 

Join us for a training on the calculator's latest updates:

*Date:* Monday, March 16
*Time:* 2:00 p.m.
*Where:* Join via Teams [ [link removed] ]

Additional trainings will be announced at a future date. If you have any comments or questions on the calculator or the training sessions, please email Stephanie Aho <[email protected]>.

 

*Environmental Review Implementation Subcommittee meeting*

*Wednesday, March 18, 1 – 4 p.m.
*Join us in person or virtually for the March 2026 Environmental Review Implementation Subcommittee (ERIS) meeting. At this meeting, ERIS will vote to elect a Chair and Vice Chair. The subcommittee will also hear about the 2025 Environmental Review Performance Report, get a final update on the Minnesota Environmental Review Climate Calculator, and an update on gas production rulemaking. 

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

 

*Environmental Review 101: Minnesota Conservation Explorer & Natural Heritage Review*

Join EQB staff and Jim Drake, Natural Heritage Review Specialist at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a webinar on using the Minnesota Conservation Explorer [ [link removed] ] (MCE) to address EAW Question 14. This session will cover the data available in the MCE, its use in conservation planning and environmental review, and step-by-step guidance for requesting natural heritage review documentation.

*Date:* Tuesday, March 31
*Time:* 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Register on Teams [ [link removed] ]

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.






Ring-necked Pheasant in snow taken in southern 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] ].

 

Bruening Pit

*Location: *Carrolton Township, Fillmore County
*Process: *Petition
*Step: *Responsible governmental unit assigned

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Fillmore County, Blake Lea <[email protected]>, 507-765-3325

 

West River Dairy Expansion [ [link removed] ]

*This project notice was previously published in the February 10, 2026, "EQB" "Monitor" with the end of comment period listed as March 12. There was an administrative error with distribution of the EAW, and not all parties were notified of the EAW availability as required by Minn. 4410.1500. MPCA is re-noticing this EAW until April 9, 2026.

*Location (city/township; county): *Morris; Stevens
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *April 9, 2026

*Project description: *Riverview, LLP proposes to expand the existing West River Dairy 7,855-cow (10,997 AU) facility by adding an 11,000-cow dairy (15,400 AU) facility in Section 1 of Synnes Township, Stevens County. Cows will be housed in a cross-ventilated, total-confinement, free-stall barn and will use clay-lined basins with impermeable covers to collect and store manure and wastewater. Liquid manure will be land applied as fertilizer on cropland.

*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,
Charles Peterson <[email protected]>, 651-757-2856

 

Waterford Township Limestone Quarry [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Waterford Township; Dakota
*Process: *EIS
*Step: *Draft EIS
*End of comment period: *May 11, 2026

*Project description: *Bryan Rock Products, Inc. (Bryan Rock) proposes to develop a new limestone quarry on property located in Waterford Township, Dakota County, Minnesota. Quarry operations will include topsoil and overburden removal, dewatering, blasting, extraction, processing (crushing, washing, screening,) stockpiling, loading, hauling, and reclamation.
Waterford Township Limestone Quarry project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Locations of public documents:* 
Dakota County Library - Farmington Branch, 508 3rd Street, Farmington, MN 55024
Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington Street, Northfield, MN 55057

*Public meeting date, time, location: *April 7, 2026, 5:00 p.m., Robert Boeckman Middle School - Little Theater, 800 Denmark Avenue, Farmington, MN 55024

*Public meeting additional details:* The two hour information meeting (5-7 p.m.) will begin with an approx. 15 minute presentation by the Project Proposer. Following the presentation, the Project Proposer will host information stations by EIS topic where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the presentation, Project and the Draft EIS content. Comment cards will be provided including identification of the email address to send those comments to (with an alternate mailing address, if needed).

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Waterford Township, Tom Davis <[email protected]>,
651-346-8467

 

Fields of Andover AUAR [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Andover; Anoka
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Draft AUAR
*End of comment period: *April 9, 2026

*Project description: *The AUAR study area includes 30 parcels that comprise approximately 808.2 acres in Andover, Anoka County, Minnesota. The study area is undeveloped and has historically been in agricultural use including vegetable fields and sod farming. Artemis Development Company is proposing to phase development of the study area to convert the existing farmland into a master planned residential and commercial development over the next decade. Scenario 1 proposes uses that are consistent with the Andover 2040 Comprehensive Plan which guides the entire study area for one residential unit per 10 acres for a total of approximately 80 residential units. Scenario 2 generally reflects the developer's concept plan that includes a mix of residential uses and approximately 30 acres of commercial land to be served by municipal services.
Fields of Andover AUAR project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW,
Andover, MN 55304

*Public meeting date, time, location: *March 23, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304
*Public meeting additional details:* Open house, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. There will be information provided about the Draft AUAR and information about how to submit comments. There will be no formal presentation, so drop in anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Andover, Joe Janish <[email protected]>, 763-767-5140

 

Sherco South and West Battery Energy Storage Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location: *Becker, Sherburne
*Process: *Alternative review
*Notice title: *Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of Draft Permit

*Notice description: *PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings on the application of Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy (Xcel Energy) for a site permit for the up to 600 megawatt (MW) Sherco South & West Battery Energy Storage Project (Project) in Becker, Minnesota. Xcel Energy proposes to construct and operate a battery energy storage system (ESS) with a nominal power rating of up to 600 MW alternating current with approximately 2,400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy capacity on a site consisting of approximately 62 acres adjacent to the Sherburne County Generating Station in the city of Becker, Sherburne County, Minnesota. The proposed Project will be located on land owned by Xcel Energy, with approximately 35 acres of the site permanently occupied by Project infrastructure. PUC Docket Number: E002/ESS-25-319
CAH Docket Number: 24-2500-41543

*Project description: *Xcel Energy proposes to construct and operate a battery energy storage system (ESS) with a nominal power rating of up to 600 MW alternating current with approximately 2,400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy capacity on a site consisting of approximately 62 acres adjacent to the Sherburne County Generating Station in the City of Becker, Sherburne County, Minnesota. 
Sherco South and West Battery Energy Storage Project project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

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

*First public meeting date, time, location: *March 18, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Becker Community Center, 11500 Sherburne Ave, Becker, MN 55308

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *March 19, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
*Second public meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Second public meeting additional details:* Webinar Number: 2497 907 0834
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free; Access Code: 2497 907 0834

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Saarah Maxon <[email protected]>, 651-201-2200

 

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*



2/26/2026       



Holmes City                   



 Douglas            



Grant Lake      



Perch, Northern Pike, Dogfish           



 300



 

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

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