Section 1

New_EQB_Logo




Section 2

EQB Monitor




Section 3

Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Section 4

Volume 50, Number 19                                                                                              May 12, 2026






Section 5

Announcements

*Environmental Review Technical Assistance Survey*

If you completed an environmental review process in 2026 and submitted a notice for the "EQB Monitor", we want to hear from you! Tell us how we’re doing providing guidance and assistance by taking this short five-question survey [ [link removed] ]. Your responses are for EQB use only and will help us provide better assistance for you in the future.






Section 6

Baby Woodchuck, Marmota monax, with a dandelion flower in his mouth in Minnesota. By Agnieszka.




Section 7

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] ].

 

Graham Acres [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Cascade Township; Olmsted
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *June 11, 2026

*Project description: *The Graham Acres residential development is proposed on approximately 185.38 acres north of US Highway 14, west of West Circle Dr NW (County Road 22), and southeast of the intersection of 60th Ave NW (County Road 44) and Valleyhigh Road NW (County Road 4) within Cascade Township and the City of Rochester. The project will include 580 residential housing units, several internal roadways, stormwater features, and a park.

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

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

 

Marlow Ridge Development (Vierling Property) [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Prior Lake; Scott
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *June 11, 2026

*Project description: *The proposed project will develop approximately 113.2 acres of land in the City of Prior Lake for residential and business park uses. Initial development includes a mix of residential uses on approximately 87.7 acres and will be developed with 86 single-family detached units, 80 twin homes, 96 townhomes, stormwater management areas, curvilinear roads, and open spaces. Future development of the remaining approximately 25.5-acre business park area is planned to include commercial and light industrial uses.
Marlow Ridge Development (Vierling Property) project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* City of Prior Lake, 4646 Dakota Street SE, Prior Lake,
MN 55372

*Responsible governmental unit and contact:* City of Prior Lake, Casey McCabe <[email protected]>,
952-447-9815

 

Cedar Creek Restoration Project [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Athens Township; Isanti
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EIS need decision

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Negative (no EIS ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *April 29, 2026

*Project description: *The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the University of Minnesota (UMN) propose to conduct a stream re-meander project at Cedar Creek located approximately 3.8 miles southeast of Isanti, Isanti County, Minnesota to address ditching and degraded in-stream habitat to restore the ecological and hydrologic functions of the creek and adjacent floodplain. The project will include reconnecting the creek to historic meanders in the floodplain, installing riffles for grade control, installing woody material for instream habitat, and restoring native riparian vegetation. The project area occurs within the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve and will be funded through a mixture of public and private funds, including a Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) grant awarded to TNC in collaboration with the Anoka Sandplain Partnership.
Cedar Creek Restoration Project project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road N,
Saint Paul, MN 55113

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Kate Fairman <[email protected]>, 651-259-5100

 

Southwest Study Area AUAR [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Lakeville; Dakota
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *Draft AUAR
*End of comment period: *June 11, 2026

*Project description: *The Southwest Study Area ("AUAR Area") includes twenty-one (21) parcels that comprise approximately 390.4 acres in Lakeville, Dakota County, Minnesota. The AUAR Area is generally located south of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 70/210th St W, west of Interstate 35 (I-35), and east of the City of Credit River, Scott County. Parts of the AUAR Area have historically been in agricultural use, several parcels are currently rural residential land use, and one parcel is currently undeveloped. Artemis Development Company (“Proposer”) is proposing to phase development within the AUAR Area to convert the existing land into a master planned residential and commercial development that may include institutional uses including a school over the next several years.
Southwest Study Area AUAR project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* City of Lakeville, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville,
MN 55044

*Public meeting date, time, location: *May 28, 2026, 4:00 p.m., City of Lakeville City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044
*Public meeting additional details:* Public open house, 4:00-6:00 pm

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Lakeville, Tina Goodroad <[email protected]>,
952-985-4421

 

Prior Lake Annexation Area [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Prior Lake; Scott
*Process: *AUAR
*Step: *AUAR adoption

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Adequate
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *May 4, 2026

*Project description: *The Prior Lake Annexation Area AUAR study area encompasses approximately 2,730 acres located in the southwest corner of Prior Lake, Scott County, Minnesota. The study area includes the Orderly Annexation Area of Spring Lake Township as well as adjacent areas within the City of Prior Lake. Two development scenarios are being studied. Scenario 1 is consistent with the land uses in the existing comprehensive plan and Scenario 2 involves a higher density of residential development. Both scenarios also include varying amounts of retail, business park, and industrial development.
Prior Lake Annexation Area project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Prior Lake City Hall, 4646 Dakota St. SE, Prior Lake,
MN 55372

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Prior Lake, Jason Wedel <[email protected]>,
952-447-9815

 

Coneflower HVTL (TL-26-132) [ [link removed] ]

*Location: *Garvin Township, Lyon
*Process: *Alternative review
*End of comment period: *June 16, 2026

*Notice title: *Notice of Complete Application and Public Information Meetings
*Notice description: *PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public information meetings on Coneflower Energy, LLC’s (Coneflower) application to construct a less than 1-mile 345-kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission line (HVTL). The proposed project is located 1-mile north of Garvin and 13-miles south of Marshall in Lyon County, Minnesota. The proposed project would connect Coneflower’s recently permitted solar energy generating system (GS-24-215) to the recently permitted Garvin Substation which is owned by Xcel Energy. Coneflower is requesting a variable route width of 600 to 1,325 feet for the proposed route so the route can accommodate the final constructed alignment of the Garvin substation. Coneflower has entered into easement agreements for the privately owned land needed for the proposed project. The Commission accepted the Coneflower's application as complete on April 14th, 2026.

*Project description: *In the Matter of the Application of Coneflower Energy, LLC for a Route Permit for the Coneflower 345 kV Transmission Line Project in Lyon County, Minnesota.

*Location of public documents:* Marshall-Lyon County Library, 201 C Street Marshall,
MN 56258

*First public meeting date, time, location: *June 1, 2026, 6:00 p.m., 5 Family Ranch,
2717 Co Rd 6, Marshall, MN 56258
*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; (2) allow attendees to ask questions of state staff and the applicant; and (3) provide an opportunity to offer oral or written comment on the proposed project and on information provided in the route application. For example, unique characteristics of the proposed project that were overlooked or potential impacts that were not identified or that would benefit from additional information and evaluation. Doors will open 30-minutes prior to the 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. Commission staff and the applicant will both make presentations during the meeting. Commission 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. Meetings will end when all present attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded, or at the scheduled end time of the meeting, whichever occurs first. It is recommended that all interested persons arrive at the scheduled start time. 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, contact the Commission at 651-296-0406 or 1-800-657-3782 at least one week in advance. To find out if a meeting is canceled due to bad weather or other call 1-855-731-6208 or visit the Commission's website [ [link removed] ].

*Second public meeting date, time, location: *June 2, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
*Second public meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Second public meeting additional details:* Date: June 2, 2026 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm. The meeting ends when all present attendees have commented or at 8:00 p.m., whichever comes first. Please arrive at the start time to ensure participation.
Webinar Number: 2491 729 4221
Webinar Password: flower2025
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Access Code: 2491 729 4221
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 raised-hand function or the chat function 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 Commission's meeting webpage [ [link removed] ].  

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Jacques Harvieux <[email protected]>, 651-201-2233

 

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].






Section 8






Section 9








Minnesota Environmental Quality Board

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