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EQB Monitor




Weekly announcements and environmental review notices





Volume 50, Number 29                                                                                               July 21, 2026






Announcements

*Environmental Review 101: Alternative Urban Areawide Review*

Join EQB staff in an overview of the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) and updated web-based guidance. [ [link removed] ] The session is ideal for beginning practitioners and will discuss applicability, validity, and procedural steps of the process, as well as solicit input for a planned update of the 2008 document Recommended AUAR Content & Format [ [link removed] ].

*Date:* Wednesday, July 29
*Time:* 10:00 -11:00  a.m.
Register via Teams [ [link removed] ]

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






Autumn Meadowhawk on a Branch.




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] ].

 

Waterside Estates General Development Plan EAW [ [link removed] ]

*Location (city/township; county): *Fairview Township; Cass
*Process: *EAW
*Step: *EAW available
*End of comment period: *August 20, 2026

*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 68 residential lots (22 riparian and 46 non-riparian), utilities, and internal road network. Riparian lots will be allowed access to the lake via stair/lifts down bluffs, boardwalks, and docks. Road access will be provided to the development via County Road (CR) 77 and White Pine Road SW.

*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

 

Elm Island Lake RV Park [ [link removed] ]

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

*Responsible governmental unit decision: *Negative (no EIS ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *July 14, 2026

*Project description: *The project consists of development of an RV and campground park on the northeast side of Elm Island Lake. The sites will have wastewater tanks, power, and seasonal water connections. A common dock system is proposed for use by the 16 RV tenants.
Elm Island Lake RV Park project link provided by RGU [ [link removed] ]

*Location of public documents:* Aitkin County Environmental Services, 307 2nd Street NW, Room 219, Aitkin, MN 56431

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Aitkin County Environmental Services,
Andrew Carlstrom <[email protected]>, 218-927-7342

 

Milestone Materials - Highland Quarry [ [link removed] ]

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

**Responsible governmental unit decision: **Negative (no EIS ordered)
*Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: *July 7, 2026

*Project description: *The proposed Highland Quarry would be a limestone quarry providing quality aggregate products to the Wabasha County and southeast Minnesota area. The aggregate products produced at this site would be primarily used in road construction for base course, surfacing, and hot mix asphalt and concrete production. Additional quarry products include rip rap, erosion control stone, landscape stone, and other products.

*Location of public documents:* Wabasha County, 625 Jefferson Ave, Wabasha, MN 55981

*Responsible governmental unit and contact: *Wabasha County, Joe Kaltenbach <[email protected]>,
651-565-3062

 

Castle Rock BESS (ESS-25-230) [ [link removed] ]

*Location: *Castle Rock Township, Dakota
*Process: *Alternative review
*End of comment period:* August 17, 2026

*Notice title: *Notice of Complete Site Permit Application and Public Information Meetings
*Notice description: *Docket #: IP7137/ESS-25-430. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will hold public information meetings on Castle Rock Solar’s application for the 150-megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) Castle Rock Battery Energy Storage System in Castle Rock Township, Dakota County, Minnesota. Associated facilities of the project will include battery energy storage enclosures, inverters and transformers, electrical collection lines, access roads, fencing, and other minor equipment and subcomponents typical of a BESS project. The project site is approximately 6.8 acres and is located entirely within the footprint of the previously permitted Castle Rock Solar facility. The Commission accepted Castle Rock Solar LLC’s application as complete on July 14, 2026. More information at the project webpage [ [link removed] ] and at the edockets website [ [link removed] ] - select Search Documents, enter the docket number (25-430), and select Search.

*Project description: *In the Matter of the Application of Castle Rock Solar LLC for a Site Permit for the up to 150 MW Castle Rock Battery Energy Storage System Project in Dakota County, Minnesota.

*Location of public documents:* Dakota County Public Library, 503 3rd St, Farmington,
MN 55024

*First public meeting date, time, location: *August 4, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Farmington High School, 20655 Flagstaff Ave, Farmington, MN 55024
*First public meeting additional details:* There will be an open house from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. to allow attendees to review the application, maps, and other materials for the proposed project and ask questions of state staff and the applicant. During the Open House, comments made by attendees will become part of the record for Commission consideration only if the attendee submits the comment in writing. Forms will be available for this purpose. If any reasonable accommodation is needed to enable you to fully participate in these meetings, please contact the Commission at 651-296-0406 or 1-800-657-3782 at least one week in advance of the meeting. 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: *August 5, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
*Second public meeting virtual link: *Join online meeting [ [link removed] ]
*Second public meeting additional details:*  
Webinar Number: 2482 153 8942
Webinar Password: Castle2025 (22785320 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2482 153 8942
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.

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. Additional information and instructions are available at the Commission's meetings 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.

*Date*



*Location*



*County*



*Waterbody*



*Species*



*Count*



7/9/2026



Plymouth



Hennepin



Mooney Lake



Panfish



1000+



7/10/2026



Plymouth



Hennepin



Mooney Lake



Unknown



100



7/10/2026



Plymouth



Hennepin



Mooney Lake



Bluegill, Crappie



1000



7/12/2026



Plymouth



Hennepin



Mooney Lake



Crappie



5000



7/13/2026



St. James



Watonwan



St. James Lake



Bluegills, Northern Pike



100+



 

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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