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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 50, Number 15                                                                                             April 14, 2026 






Announcements

*Environmental Quality Board meeting*

*Wednesday, April 15, 1 – 4:00 p.m.
*Join us for the April 2026 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the board will hear a Spring pollinator report update and hear an update on gas production rulemaking before voting on approval.

More information can be found on the board meeting webpage [ [link removed] ], including the meeting packet and details on attending the meeting virtually or in person.

 

*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, April 21
*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.

(This is rescheduled from the 3/31/26 canceled webinar of the same title)

* *

*Submit your ideas for improving the MN Environmental Review Program*

We'd like to hear from you! Whether you've petitioned for review or served as a Responsible Governmental Unit, your perspective can help us continuously improve the way that environmental review makes usable information available to decision-makers and the public. Your idea could be anything that pertains to Minnesota's Environmental Review Program rules and procedures. This includes forms, guidance, rules, reports, data management, and more. Share your ideas through the EQB Engagement Platform [ [link removed] ].

*Feedback accepted through May 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.  * 

 

Two Chipmunks holding paws at the bottom of a tree trunk




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] ].

 

West River Dairy Expansion [ [link removed] ]

*This EAW was originally published February 10, 2026. On April 7, the MPCA extended the public comment period to May 7. The following public meeting has been added.

*Process: *EAW

*Public meeting date, time, location: *April 28, 2026, 6:00 p.m., The South Side Event Center and Reception Hall, 412 Atlantic Avenue, Morris, MN 56267
*Public meeting additional details:* The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will host a public meeting to present information and hear comments on the environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) and feedlot permit for a proposed dairy expansion in west central Minnesota. The meeting is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. The MPCA extended the deadline for public comment on the EAW and permit to May 7, 2026, to allow additional time for input following the meeting.

Riverview, LLP is seeking to expand its existing West River Dairy facility in Morris from 7,855 dairy cows to a total capacity of 18,855 dairy cows. Animals will be housed in a cross-ventilated barn with clay-lined basins to collect and store manure and wastewater. Liquid manure will be land-applied as fertilizer on cropland. The expansion will include covered liquid manure storage basins, water storage basins, and require 13,200 acres of land for manure application.

Those who wish to comment on the EAW should consider the EAW's accuracy, potential impacts from the project that warrant further investigation, or the need for an environmental impact statement. The EAW reviewed potential impacts to air, local geology, soils, groundwater, surface water, and other potential environmental impacts. The public can review the draft EAW and submit public comments by visiting the Smart Comment portal on the MPCA website or by mail to: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency c/o Charles Peterson 520 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155. After the public comment period ends, the agency will review all comments and determine whether additional environmental review will be necessary. If the agency determines there is no need for additional environmental review, the project will proceed through permitting.

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
Charles Peterson <[email protected]>, 651-757-2856

 

I-494: Airport to 169 [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Bloomington; Hennepin
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*Joint federal and state review: *Yes
*End of comment period: *May 16, 2026

*Project description: *The Project will add E-ZPass lanes on Interstate 494 between West Bush Lake Rd. and East Bush Lake Rd. and between Lyndale Ave. and 24th Ave.; reconstruct existing interchanges at Highway 77 and I-494 and 82nd St. and I-35W; replace pavement on I-494 and I-35W; and include ramp and/or bridge work at: West Bush Lake Rd., East Bush Lake Rd., I-494/Hwy 100, France Ave., Xerxes Ave., I-494 and I-35W, Lyndale Ave., Portland Ave., and 24th Ave. It will also include improvements across frontage roads, sidewalks, trails, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), noise walls, drainage, and retaining walls. It will reconstruct the two track Progressive Railroad bridge over I-494 and replace it as a single track. The removed railroad siding will be replaced south of the main Project.
I-494: Airport to 169 project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* MnDOT Metro District, 1500 County Road B 2 W,
Roseville, MN 55113

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Department of Transportation,
Andrew Lutaya <[email protected]>, 651‐234‐7563

 

Mixed Residential South Area [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Minnetrista; Hennepin
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *May 14, 2026

*Project description: *The proposed project is a residential development in the City of Minnetrista, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The development will be built on approximately 163 acres and will be developed with 357 to 422 detached single family and attached townhome residential units, stormwater management areas, curvilinear roads, and open spaces.
Mixed Residential South Area project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* City Hall, 7701 County Road 110 W, Minnetrista,
MN 55364

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Minnetrista, Nickolas Olson <[email protected]>,
952-241-2524

 

Stearns County Justice Center [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *St Cloud; Stearns
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *April 6, 2026

*Project description: *The proposed project would consist of a newly constructed Justice Center for Stearns County located within two parcels (31.20810.0000, 31.20803.0000) totaling approximately 75.87 acres. The 508,600 square foot complex would be split between three functions: courts tower, a jail, a law enforcement center, and Sheriff Department vehicle maintenance outbuilding.

*Location of public documents:* St Cloud City Hall, 1201 7th St S, Saint Cloud, MN 56301

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Stearns County, Matt Glaesman <[email protected]>,
320-650-3110, 

 

165th Street Area AUAR [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Hugo; Washington
*Process: *AUAR
*Step: *Draft AUAR
*End of comment period: *May 14, 2026

*Project description: *The AUAR Study Area consists of 784 acres of land within the City of Hugo, bounded by the City of Lino Lakes to the west and Oneka Lake to the east. The Study Area is surrounded by rural residential and undeveloped land to the north, east, and west, with medium density residential to the south. Three development scenarios are evaluated in the AUAR. Scenario 1 is consistent with the existing 2040 Comprehensive Plan, including industrial, low, medium, and high density residential, and mixed use. Scenario 2 involves a higher density of medium-density residential development and mixed-use, including industrial, mixed use and low, medium, and high density residential as planned unit developments. Scenario 3 consists of no industrial development and a higher density of residential development, including mixed use and low, medium, and high density residential as planned unit developments.
165th Street Area AUAR project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Hugo City Hall, 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North, Hugo,
MN 55038

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Hugo, Rachel Juba <[email protected]>, 651-762-6304

 

General notices

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

 

Notice of Public Information and Environmental Report Scoping Meetings - PowerOn Midwest project

*Notice description:* The proposed PowerOn Midwest Project is a combination of new 345 kilovolt (kV) and 765 kV transmission lines proposed across southern Minnesota. Approximately 271 miles of new single-circuit 765 kV high-voltage transmission lines proposed between: South Dakota/Minnesota border and Lakefield Junction Substation (Jackson County), Lakefield Junction Substation and Minnesota/Iowa border, Lakefield Junction Substation and Pleasant Valley Substation, and Pleasant Valley Substation and North Rochester Substation (Goodhue County). Approximately 31 miles of new 345 kV circuit between: Pleasant Valley Substation and North Rochester Substation, by replacing existing single-circuit structures with new double-circuit-capable structures. A second 345 kV circuit (approximately 38 miles) added between: North Rochester Substation and Hampton Substation (Dakota County), using the existing double-circuit-capable structures.

*Public meeting dates, times, locations:*

*April 21, 2026*, 10:00 a.m., The Caboose, 1045 Craig Avenue, Tracy, MN 56175

*April 21, 2026*, 5:00 p.m., Hiawatha Lodge, 201 4th Street NW, Pipestone, MN 56164

*April 22, 2026*, 10:00 a.m., Worthington Event Center, 1447 Prairie Drive, Worthington, MN 56187

*April 22, 2026*, 5:00 p.m., Windom Community Center, 1750 Cottonwood Lake Drive, Windom, MN 56101

*April 23, 2026*, 10:00 a.m., Knights of Columbus, 920 East 10th Street, Fairmont, MN 56031

*April 23, 2026*, 5:00 p.m., Golden Bubble, 11575 State Highway 22, Wells, MN 56097

*April 28, 2026*, 10:00 a.m., Wedgewood Cove, 2200 West 9th Street, Albert Lea, MN 56007

*April 28, 2026*, 5:00 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 1701 Fourth Street NW, Austin, MN 55912

*April 29, 2026*, 10:00 a.m., Events Sports Bar and Grill, 401 8th Street SE, Kasson, MN 55944

*April 29, 2026*, 5:00 p.m., Zumbrota VFW, 25 East 1st Street, Zumbrota, MN 55992

*April 30, 2026*, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
*Virtual link:* Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Additional details:* Webinar Number: 2485 184 0502
Webinar Password: 6pPxdnXq2t8 (67793697 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 248 518 40502
If you are attending the meeting by WebEx and would like to ask a question or make a comment during the designated portion of the meeting, use the chat function or raise-hand function to send a message to the meeting moderator. If you are attending 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 Commission's meetings webpage. [ [link removed] ]

*Link to additional information:* PowerOn Midwest project additional information [ [link removed] ]

*Contact:* Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Scott Ek <[email protected]>, 651-539-1070

[ [link removed] ]

 

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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