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.
Tonka Bay Indian Cemetery Soil Repatriation
Location: Tonka Bay, Hennepin County
Process: Petition
Step: Responsible governmental unit assigned
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Tonka Bay, CH Holl , 952-474-7994
Location (city/township; county): Faribault; Rice
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: June 20, 2025
Project description: The Archer Datacenters Faribault Campus project is south of 150th Street West and east of Acorn Trail in Faribault, Rice County, MN. The site consists of one parcel of approximately 84.3 acres of agricultural and undeveloped woodland. Archer Datacenters proposes to develop the study area from existing agriculture to up to 500,000 square feet of data center buildings with associated utilities and parking lot.
Location of public documents: Faribault City Hall, 208 1st Ave NW, Faribault, MN 55021
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Faribault, Harry Davis,
507-333-0388
Location (city/township; county): Victoria; Carver
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
Joint federal and state review: Yes
End of comment period: June 20, 2025
Project description: Carver County, in cooperation with its partner, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), along with the cities of Chanhassen and Victoria, is proposing to reconstruct Highway 5 to an urban 4-lane roadway between Commercial Avenue in Victoria to Highway 41 in Chanhassen. A roundabout is planned at Commercial Avenue and new traffic signals are proposed at Minnewashta Parkway and Park/Kochia Road. Roadway improvements are also proposed along County Highway 13 (Rolling Acres Rd/Bavaria Rd), which includes reconstruction of the rural 2-lane roadway to an urban 2-lane divided road with a center landscaped median and roundabout intersections at Inter Laken and Tamarack Trail. Several pedestrian/bicycle improvements will be made, which include closing gaps in the existing system and adding enhanced crossings in the form of trail underpasses and a trail bridge. The Project includes drainage features to collect and treat runoff.
Highway 5 Improvements Project: EAW and EA project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Carver County Public Works Facility, 11360 Highway, Cologne, MN 55322
Public meeting date, time, location: June 12, 2025, 5:00 p.m., City of Chanhassen Recreation Center, 2310 Coulter Boulevard, Chanhassen, MN 55317
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Diane Langenbach, 651-271-7334
Location (city/township; county): Elk River; Sherburne
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: June 20, 2025
Project description: The Oakwater Ridge residential/commercial development is proposed on approximately ±248 acres west of U.S. Highway 10/169 and east of the Mississippi River in the City of Elk River, Sherburne County, Minnesota. The project will include 536 single-family residential homes and a commercial parcel (likely consisting of a multi-tenant retail strip and a gas station). The project will include several internal roadways, a river overlook, an open space/recreational area, a future trail, a greenway corridor, and stormwater features.
Location of public documents: Elk River City Hall, 13065 Orono Parkway, Elk River,
MN 55330
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Elk River, Zachary Carlton,
763-635-1035
Location (city/township; county): Carver; Carver
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: March 3, 2025
Project description: United Properties (Proposer) proposes to develop a multi-purpose light industrial complex (mixture of corporate office and warehouse) north of Highway 212, in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of Jonathon Carver Parkway/ County State Aid Highway 11 (CSAH 11) and Levi Griffin Road in the City of Carver. Two buildings are proposed on the approximately 29.5 acre site, with a total square footage of 378,000 (189,000 square feet each), as well as landscaping and new entrance roads and parking lot. Construction is anticipated to begin Spring 2025.
Carver Industrial Park project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Carver City Hall, 316 Broadway, Carver, MN 55315
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Carver County, Erin Smith, 952-448-5353
Location (city/township; county): Stillwater; Washington
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: May 6, 2025
Project description: Health Partners, Inc. desires to replace their existing hospital located in the south-central part of Stillwater, MN. The existing hospital is ageing, no longer meets the needs of today's health care services, is limited to local roadway access and is located within a residential area. A new 400,000 square foot hospital and medical office campus is proposed in a commercial area with better access to TH 36, Manning Avenue (CR 15) and Stillwater Blvd. (CR 5). The 64-acre site is located on the northeast corner of TH 36 and Manning Avenue. The new hospital will include 85 inpatient beds, 20 observation beds, and 11 emergency room beds. Plans are to initiate construction in Spring 2025 with completion in Summer 2027.
Lakeview Replacement Hospital and Medical Campus project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Stillwater City Hall, 216 4th Street North, Stillwater,
MN 55082
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Stillwater, Ben Gutknecht,
651-430-8818
Location (city/township; county): Pine Island; Goodhue
Process: Large AUAR
Step: Final order for review
Project description: Ryan Companies US, Inc. is preparing an AUAR for an approximate 482-acre area in the City of Pine Island and Pine Island Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. The AUAR area is bounded by 490th Street to the north, Trunk Highway (TH) 52 to the west and south, and 195th Avenue to the east. Development scenarios include a Mixed Technology Center/ Light Industrial Scenario (Scenario A) and Technology Center Scenario (Scenario B).
Project Skyway project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Pine Island City Hall, 250 South Main Street, Pine Island, MN 55963
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Pine Island, Elizabeth Howard,
507-356-4591
General notices
Notices published in this section may be required under Minnesota Statute or Rule.
Notice Of Public Information and Environmental Assessment Scoping Meetings - North Star Storage project
Notice description: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) and the Minnesota Department of Commerce will hold public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings on North Star Energy Storage, LLC's (an affiliate of DESRI Renewables, L.L.C.) (North Star Energy) application for a site permit for its proposed 80-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility to be located in Section 36 of North Branch Township, Chisago County, Minnesota.
First public meeting date, time, location: May 28, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Lent Town Hall,
33155 Hemingway Avenue, Stacy, MN 55079
First public meeting additional details: Written comments will be accepted through
June 13, 2025, by 4:30 p.m. Please include the docket number in all communications. Comments received after the close of the comment period may or may not be considered by the Commission. Topics for Comment: What potential human and environmental impacts or unique characteristics of the proposed project should be considered in the environmental assessment? Are there any methods to minimize, mitigate, or avoid potential impacts of the proposed project that should be considered in the environmental assessment?
Link to submit comments online
Email: sam.weaver@state.mn.us
U.S. Mail:
Sam Weaver
Minnesota Department of Commerce
85 7th Place East, Suite 280
St. Paul, MN 55101
Comments will be made available to the public via the Commission's website, except in limited circumstances consistent with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The Commission does not edit or delete personal identifying information from submissions.
Second public meeting date, time, location: May 29, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
Second public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Second public meeting additional details:
Webinar Number: 2492 987 9168
Webinar Password: vbGbZGXM346
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 82429496
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 Webex information and instructions
Link to additional information: North Star Storage project additional information
Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Scott Ek, 651-539-1070
Responsible Governmental Unit Request for Re-designation - Elm Island RV Park
Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU) Re-designation: On April 30, 2025, the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) received a petition for the Elm Island RV Park project in Nordlund Township, Aitkin County. The EQB designated Aitkin County as the Responsible Governmental Unit using selection procedures found in Minn. Rules 4410.0500.
On May 5, 2025, the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) received an email request from the petitioner’s representative requesting the EQB replace Aitkin County as the RGU for Elm Island RV Park project with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Recommendation: The EQB Chair’s preliminary recommendation is to deny the re-designation. Under Minn. Rule 4410.4300, subp. 20a: Resorts, campgrounds, and RV parks in shorelands., the local governmental unit is the RGU. Aitkin County is the governmental unit with the greatest responsibility for approving the project as a whole and issuing the permits for the project. A re-designation can be appropriate if another governmental unit has greater expertise, but there was not enough evidence presented to re-designate the RGU and Aitkin County has experience in reviewing these projects.
Next Steps: A denial of re-designation of the RGU for the Elm Island RV Park will be made by the EQB chair on May 28, 2025, unless any Board member, on behalf of the public, requests a full review by the Board. A member of the public may contact any Board member to make a request for full Board review on their behalf. Here is a link to contact information for EQB Board members.
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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5/7/2025
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Waseca
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Waseca
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Clear Lake
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n/a, n/a
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unknown
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5/10/2025
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Albert Lea
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Freeborn
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Fountain Lake
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Bullheads
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100's
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5/12/2025
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Long Lake
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Watonwan
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Long Lake
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Black bullheads
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thousands
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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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