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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 50, Number 25                                                                                              June 23, 2026






Announcements

Welcome aboard on coffee mug
*New Public Board Member*

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Dingmann as Public Board Member for Congressional District 7.

 







Male American Toad (Bufo americanus). Golden eyes.




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] ].

 

CSAH 15 Reconstruction [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Washington Township; Le Sueur
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *July 23, 2026

*Project description: *The proposed project would reconstruct County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 15 between CSAH 16 and the north intersection of CSAH 18 in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. Proposed improvements include full pavement reconstruction, widening the roadway embankment to accommodate 12-foot travel lanes and 6-foot shoulders, and enhancing drainage conveyance.
CSAH 15 Reconstruction project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Le Sueur County Government Center, 88 South Park Avenue, Le Center, MN 56057

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Le Sueur County, David Tiegs <[email protected]>, 507-357-2251

 

Annandale-Maple Lake-Howard Lake-Montrose-Waverly Wastewater Treatment Facility [ [link removed] ]

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

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *June 12, 2026

*Project description: *Annandale-Maple Lake-Howard Lake Wastewater Commission (AMHWC) plans to regionalize the Annandale-Maple Lake-Howard Lake wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) (Facility) with the Montrose WWTF (Project). This Project will provide expanded treatment capacity for municipal wastewater. Improvements include expansion of aeration basins, construction of a blower building, and construction of a new stormwater pond. The Project will expand the existing average wet weather design flow (AWWDF) from 1.184 million gallons per day (mgd) to 2.49 mgd. The regional Facility will be at 1759 Country Road 7 NW, Maple Lake, MN 55358 (Site).
Annandale-Maple Lake-Howard Lake-Montrose-Waverly Wastewater Treatment Facility project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette
Road N, Saint Paul, MN 55155

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 
Doree Husnik <[email protected]>, 651-757-2374

 

Willow Pond Maintenance [ [link removed] ]

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

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *June 8, 2026

*Project description: *The project would consist of dredging approximately 20,000 cubic yards of sediment from Willow Pond. Construction is anticipated to occur for a month during the winter of 2026-2027. Alternatively, if construction occurs during the summer of 2027, contractors would perform a wet dredge and utilize floating barges to remove dredged material. Dewatering may be required to expose the sediment for excavation. Stormwater infrastructure in or near the pond would be upgraded as needed.

*Location of public documents:* Roseville City Hall, 2660 Civic Center Dr, Roseville,
MN 55113

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Roseville, Ryan Johnson <[email protected]>,
651-792-7049

 

Waterside Estates Development [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Fairview Township; Cass
*Process: *EIS
*Step: *EIS preparation notice

*Project description: *UC-Barefoot Bay, LLC proposes to develop approximately 115 acres on 10 parcels in Fairview Township, Cass County into residential land use. The proposed project will construct 79 residential lots, 2 outlots, an amenity center, utilities, and an internal road network. The amenity center will provide access to docks and boat slips, as well as beach and dock access to Gull Lake. The development will be constructed as a Conservation Development Design Planned Unit Development (PUD), following the natural topography and vegetation of the site.

*Summary of scoping decision: *The EIS will prepare additional information in the following categories: Land Use, Geology and Soils, Visual, Greenhouse Gas/Carbon Footprint, and Noise. The EIS will include an in depth analysis of the following categories: Water Resources, Fish/Wildlife/Plant Communities/Sensitive Ecological, and Cumulative Potential Effects.
Waterside Estates Development project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Cass County Courthouse, 303 Minnesota Ave W, Walker, MN 56484

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Cass County, Scott Wold <[email protected]>, 218-547-7256

 

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

*Location (city/township; county): *Duluth; St. Louis
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *AUAR adoption

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Adequate
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *June 9, 2026

*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

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

 

Summerfield [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Carver; Carver
*Process: *Large AUAR
*Step: *AUAR adoption

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Adequate
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *June 15, 2026

*Project description: *Southwest growth area in Carver - 1,500 acres with the potential for 5,075-6,075 residential units.
Summerfield project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Carver City Hall, 316 Broadway, Carver, MN 55315

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *City of Carver, Erin Smith <[email protected]>, 952-448-8743

 

Blue Lake Battery Energy Storage (BESS) Project (E-002/ESS-25-214) [ [link removed] ]

*Location: *Shakopee, Scott
*Process: *Alternative review

*Notice title: *Notice of Final Permit Decision
*Notice description: *NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in an order issued on May 4, 2026, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission: (1) adopted the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendations to the extent it is consistent with the Commission’s Decisions, (2) determined that the Environmental Assessment and the record created at the public hearing addressed the issues identified in the scoping decision, (3) adopted modified Findings, (4) adopted special permit condition 5.10 for a Tree Replacement Plan, and (5) issued a site permit to Xcel Energy for the up to 135.5-MW Blue Lake Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project with the standard and special conditions identified in the proposed site permit. More information is located at the Commission’s eDocket [ [link removed] ] system via eDocket Number 25-214. Questions about this project may be directed to Saarah Maxon at [email protected] or 651-201-2200.

*Project description: *In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy for an up to 135.5 MW Battery Energy Storage System Site Permit for the Blue Lake Battery Energy Storage Project in Scott County, Minnesota.

*Location of public documents:* Shakopee Public Library, 235 Lewis St. S Shakopee,
MN 55379

*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.

*Date*



*Location*



*County*



*Waterbody*



*Species*



*Count*



6/10/2026



Chisago City



Chisago



Green Lake



Bluegill, Crappie



50



6/10/2026



Emily



Crow Wing



Lake Emily



Bluegill, Crappie



80



6/10/2026



Alexandria



Douglas



Victoria Lake



Bass, Sunfish



60



6/10/2026



Pillager



Cass



Hardy Lake



Crappies, Sunfish



30



6/11/2026



Crosslake



Crow Wing



Gull Lake, Round Lake, Bass Lake, Cross Lake



Panfish, Rough



100s



6/13/2026



Orono



Hennepin



Long Lake



Panfish



100



6/15/2026



Faribault



Rice



Cedar Lake



Bluegill



100+



6/15/2026



Long Lake



Hennepin



Long Lake



Crappie, none



300



6/15/2026



Orr



St. Louis



Pelican Lake



Bluegill



30



6/15/2026



Long Lake



Hennepin



Long Lake



Not specified, multiple



250



 

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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Email: [email protected] | Phone: 651-757-2873

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