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.
Location (city/township; county): Malmo Township; Aitkin
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: April 24, 2025
Project description: Aitkin County proposes to construct an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) trail on 40.95 acres between Malmo and Millward Township in Aitkin County, MN. The project will be completed in two phases (1A and 1B), adding approximately 36.35 miles of trail to the existing Northwoods Regional ATV trail system.
Northwoods Regional Trail Phase 1A & 1B project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Aitkin County Planning & Zoning Department,
307 2nd St NW, Aitkin, MN 56431
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Aitkin County Environmental Services, Andrew Carlstrom, 218-927-7342
Location (city/township; county): Hampton; Dakota
Process: Large AUAR
Step: Revised AUAR
End of comment period: April 8, 2025
Project description: The AUAR study area encompasses an area totaling approximately 140 acres on seven parcels in the City of Hampton and Hampton Township, both of which are in Dakota County, Minnesota. Two scenarios are proposed for evaluation in the AUAR. Scenario 1 includes multiple buildings for a total of 400,000 square feet of industrial, 150,000 square feet of highway commercial development, and 3.4 million square feet of agricultural land. Scenario 2 includes multiple buildings for a total of 1.5 million square feet of proposed light industrial, technology park.
Hampton Industrial AUAR project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Hampton City Hall, 5265 238th St E, Hampton, MN 55031
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Hampton, John Knetter,
651-437-8846
Location: Bruce Township, Todd
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: April 8, 2025
Notice title: Great River Energy Pillsbury tap 115-kV transmission line project
Notice description: Bruce Township is the local governmental unit responsible for approval and permitting of the proposed Great River Energy Pillsbury tap 115-kV transmission line. This involves construction of approximately two miles of new 115-kV transmission line that runs south between the Pillsbury Substation (32083 Grosbeak Road, Long Prairie) and Minnesota Power 115-kV line (SE ¼ NW ¼ of Section 34, T129N, R32W). The comment deadline is April 8, 2025. Location of public documents: Bruce Township Hall, 26234 285th Ave, Long Prairie, MN 56347 or by request.
Project description: Great River Energy requested local review, pursuant to Minnesota Rule 7850.5300 for a two-mile long 115-kV transmission line, substation upgrades, and associated facilities located east of Long Prairie in Bruce Township (Project). The proposed route would exit Stearns Electric Association's Pillsbury Substation 33-to 35-feet from the Todd County 105 Road centerline, staying on the west side of the road for approximately two miles to the existing Minnesota Power "41" 115-kV line. Proposed poles are 75- to 85-foot-tall single wood poles, approximately 400 to 500 feet apart. A 100-foot-wide right-of-way easement is proposed. Bruce Township is the regulating authority for the project and will conduct a public hearing as part of their Conditional Use Process. The Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for review at the townhall. Project information is also located at https://www.edockets.state.mn.us/documents via eDocket Number 24-398.
Location of public documents: Bruce Township Hall, Bev Eggerth, Clerk/Treasurer,
26234 285th Ave., Bruce Township, MN 56347
Public meeting date, time, location: April 8, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Bruce Township Hall,
26234 285th Ave, Long Prairie, MN 56347
Public meeting additional details: A public hearing to take comments will be held at the Township Board meeting. Township Board Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Township Hall. Meetings start at 7:00 p.m.
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Bruce Township, Bev Eggerth,
320-533-1814
General notices
Notices published in this section may be required under Minnesota Statute or Rule.
Notice of Public Information and Environmental Assessment Scoping Meetings - Boswell Solar
Notice description: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Minnesota Department of Commerce will hold public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings on Minnesota Power's application for a site and route permit for its proposed 85-megawatt Boswell Solar Project and associated 2.45-mile 230-kilovolt transmission line to be located in parts of the city of Cohasset, Leech Lake Band of the Ojibwe Reservation, and Deer Lake Township in Itasca County, Minnesota. PUC Docket No. GS-24-425 and TL-24-426 Written comments will be accepted through April 17, 2025, by 4:30 p.m. Submit Comments Online
Email: Jessica Livingston
U.S. Mail: Attn Jessica Livingston, Minnesota Department of Commerce, 85 7th Place East, Suite 280 St. Paul, MN 55101
First public meeting date, time, location: April 2, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Cohasset Community Center, 305 1st Avenue NW, Cohasset, MN 55721
First public meeting additional details: The purpose of the meetings is to: (1) provide information to the public about the proposed project and the state's site permitting process; and (2) provide members of the public an opportunity to participate in developing the scope of the environmental assessment. State staff and the applicant will make presentations during the meeting. State 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. The meetings will end when all attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded, or the scheduled end time of the meeting, whichever occurs first. The information presented will be the same at all in-person and online meetings.
Second public meeting date, time, location: April 3, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
Second public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Second public meeting additional details: Webinar Number: 2483 515 9342
Webinar Password: MeNnPDyw263 (63667399 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 248 351 59342
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 chat or raised-hand functions 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.
Link to additional information: Boswell Solar Project additional information
Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Scott Ek, 651-539-1070
Notice of Additional Public Scoping Meeting and Extension of Comment Period - Midwater BESS
Notice description: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings for Midwater BESS, LLC's (Applicant) joint application for a site permit and route permit to construct and operate an up to 150-megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated facilities (BESS Facility), and an approximately 2,668-foot long, 161 kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission line (HVTL) and associated facilities (HVTL Facility). The comment period has been extended, and written comments will be accepted through April 21, 2025 by 4:30 p.m.
Public meeting date, time, location: April 7, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Glenville First Lutheran church, 140 3rd Ave SW, Glenville, MN 56036
Public meeting additional details: The purpose of the meeting is to: (1) provide information about the proposed project and the state's permitting process; and (2) provide the public with an opportunity to participate in developing the scope of the environmental assessment. Doors will open one hour prior to the meeting to provide attendees an opportunity to review the application, project 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.
State staff and the applicant will both make presentations during the meeting. State 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. The meeting will end when all attendees have had the opportunity to comment, and all other business has been concluded, or the scheduled end time of the meeting, whichever occurs first. 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, 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 information call
1-855-731-6208 or visit mn.gov/puc.
Link to additional information: Midwater BESS additional information
Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Jacques Harvieux, 651-201-2233
Notice of Public Information and Environmental Assessment and Scoping Meeting - Castle Rock Solar
Notice description: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) and the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Department) will hold public information and environmental assessment (EA) scoping meetings on Castle Rock Solar LLC's (Castle Rock Solar) application for a site permit to construct an up to 150-megawatt (MW) solar energy generating system in Castle Rock Township in Dakota County, Minnesota.
First public meeting date, time, location: April 16, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
First public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
First public meeting additional details: April 16, 2025 Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm
Webinar Number: 2495 318 0075
Webinar Password: castlerock2024
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2495 318 0075
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 chat or raised-hand functions 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 virtual meeting information and instructions
Second public meeting date, time, location: April 17, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Farmington High School, 20655 Flagstaff Ave, Farmington, MN 55024
Second public meeting additional details: The purpose of the meetings are to: (1) provide information about the proposed project and the state's permitting process; and (2) provide an opportunity to participate in developing the scope of the environmental assessment. State staff and the applicant will make presentations during the meeting. State 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. The meetings will end when all attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded, or the scheduled end time of the meeting, whichever occurs first. 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, 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 mn.gov/puc.
Link to additional information: Castle Rock Solar additional information
Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Jacques Harvieux, 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. Call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 651‐649‐5451 or 800‐422‐0798 to report fish kills.
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Date
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Location
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County
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Waterbody
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Species
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Count
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3/12/2025
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St Paul
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Ramsey
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Mississippi River
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Not specified
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200
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3/13/2025
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St. Paul
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Ramsey
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Mississippi River
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Not specified, 9 inches
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5,000
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3/14/2025
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St Clair
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Blue Earth
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Lake Elysian
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Carp
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100 +
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3/14/2025
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Lake Park
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Becker
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Lake Ida
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Bullhead, assorted Minnows, Perch, Pike, Sunfish
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200+
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3/15/2025
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Owatonna
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Steele
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Straight River
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Bass, Walleye, River Carpsucker
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1000's
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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 are due by 4:00 p.m. on the Tuesday one week prior to the intended publication date. Please see the EQB Monitor schedule for more details.
To submit a notice for publication:
Questions? Contact EQB by phone at 651-757-2873 or email us at EQB.Monitor@state.mn.us.
For more information on environmental review, please visit the EQB website or contact us at env.review@state.mn.us.
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