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): Shakopee; Scott
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: September 11, 2025
Project description: The Proposed Project involves the restoration of the Minnesota River stream bank in Shakopee, Minnesota. The riverbank throughout the project area is experiencing severe erosion, which is actively impacting the area's human cultural resources, river habitat, regional park systems, and critical public sanitary sewer utilities. The Proposed Project would protect city infrastructure, relocate the Minnesota State Valley Trail from flood impacts, enhance flood mitigation measures, and implement park improvements to better connect park users to the river.
Minnesota Riverbank Protection and Parks Integration project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Shakopee City Hall, 485 Gorman Street, Shakopee,
MN 55379
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Shakopee, Alex Jordan,
952-233-9361
Location (city/township; county): Carver; Carver
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: September 11, 2025
Project description: 530 unit residential development with a mix of single family and multi-family units.
The Enclave at Carver Creek project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: City of Carver, 316 Broadway, Carver, MN 55315
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Carver, Erin Smith, 952-448-8743
Location (city/township; county): Columbia Heights; Anoka
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision
Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (no EIS ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: July 28, 2025
Project description: Lincoln Avenue Communities proposes to redevelop the former Medtronic office building and parking lot site. The proposed project includes three multi-story residential apartment buildings (443 units) with surface and underground parking; 58 townhome units; and 12,000 square feet of commercial space. The 12.5-acre site is located at 800 53rd Avenue NE.
800 53rd Avenue NE - Redevelopment to High Density residential project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: City of Columbia Heights, 3989 Central Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Columbia Heights, 763-706-3670
Location (city/township; county): Elk River; Sherburne
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision
Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (no EIS ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: August 4, 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: City of 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): Buffalo; Wright
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision
Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (no EIS ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: August 4, 2025
Project description: This 210.1-acre housing project features a phased development plan, commencing in 2025 with a total of 303 single family housing units and 608 attached housing units. The project also includes a 10.2-acre natural park, new infrastructure, storm ponds, wetlands, and recreational enhancements, transforming farmland and grassland into a diverse residential community over a five-year period.
South Shores on Lake Pulaski project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Buffalo City Center, 212 Central Avenue, Buffalo,
MN 55313
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Buffalo, David Kelly, 763-682-1181
Location (city/township; county): Mankato; Blue Earth, Dodge, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Winona
Process: EIS
Step: Final EIS
End of comment period: August 26, 2025
Project description: The proposed Project is a new approximately 130-mile 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the existing Wilmarth Substation in Mankato to the Mississippi River near Kellogg, and a new approximately 20-mile 161 kV transmission line between the existing North Rochester Substation near Pine Island and an existing transmission line northeast of Rochester. The Project may cross portions of Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Waseca, Rice, Dodge, Olmsted, Goodhue, Winona, Wabasha, and Steele counties and is divided into the four segments. The applicant has requested a route width of 1,000 feet along most of the proposed alignments (500 feet to either side of proposed centerlines), with wider areas (up to 1.25 miles wide) around Project substations, in locations with routing constraints, and where route options come together. The 345 kV portion of this Project typically requires a permanent 150-foot-wide right-of-way.
Mankato – Mississippi River 345 kV Transmission Line Project in Southeast Minnesota project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Blue Earth County Library, 100 E Main Street,
Mankato, MN 56001
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Richard Davis, 651-539-1077
Location (city/township; county): Andover; Anoka
Process: Large AUAR
Step: Draft order for review
End of comment period: September 11, 2025
Project description: The AUAR study area includes 30 parcels that comprise approximately 808.2 acres in Andover, Anoka County, Minnesota. The study area is undeveloped and has historically been in agricultural use including vegetable fields and sod farming. Artemis Development Company is proposing to phase development of the study area to convert the existing farmland into a master planned residential and commercial development over the next decade. Scenario 1 proposes uses that are consistent with the Andover 2040 Comprehensive Plan which guides the entire study area for one residential unit per 10 acres for a total of approximately 80 residential units. Scenario 2 generally reflects the developer's concept plan that includes a mix of residential uses and approximately 30 acres of commercial land to be served by municipal services.
Location of public documents: Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Blvd NW, Andover,
MN 55304
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Andover, Joe Janish, 763-767-5140
Location (city/township; county): Rochester; Olmsted
Process: Large AUAR
Step: Draft AUAR
End of comment period: September 11, 2025
Project description: IRG is proposing development of property surrounding the existing campus. The undeveloped portions of the property are largely grassland, wetland, and wooded to the north and west. To the south, the proposed development property is primarily agricultural. The surrounding uses are largely commercial to the north, industrial to the west, and residential to the south. To the best of the proposer’s knowledge, no previous traffic studies have been conducted on the property since the construction of the commercial area to the north including Target and Home Depot. The proposed development activity consists of commercial, retail, and hospitality to the east, largely residential to the south and north, and industrial to the west. The attached conceptual site plan identifies a series of proposed roads and pedestrian connections throughout that will be evaluated with this study.
Rochester Technology Campus project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Development Services and Infrastructure Center,
4001 W River Parkway, Rochester, MN 55901
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Rochester, Elliot Mohler,
507-328-2600
Location: Minden Township, Benton
Process: Alternative review
Notice title: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND AVAILABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Notice description: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings on the applications of Benton Solar LLC for site and route permits for the proposed Benton Solar Project, including an up to 100 megawatt alternating current (MWac) solar energy generating system, a 100 MWac battery energy storage system (BESS), and a route permit for a new approximately 0.5-mile 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line. The application was filed with the Commission on September 24, 2024.
Project description: The proposed project is located on approximately 632 acres of private land on a 951.4-acre project site located 4.0 miles east of St. Cloud in Minden Township, Benton County, Minnesota. The main components of the project include, but are not limited to, solar modules and tracking systems, electrical collector lines, inverters, transformers, battery energy storage systems, a project substation, security fencing, access roads, stormwater basins, an operation and maintenance building, and weather stations. Benton Solar has identified the existing Great River Energy (GRE) Benton County Substation as the point of interconnection (POI) for the Project and has proposed to build a 0.5 mile long 115-kV transmission line to deliver the energy from the Project to the electrical grid.
Location of public documents: Great River Regional Library - St. Cloud, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud, MN 56301
First public meeting date, time, location: August 26, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
First public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
First public meeting additional details: Webinar Number: 2494 400 3704
Webinar Password: MNPUC (66782 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2494 400 3704
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 information and instructions are available at the PUC website.
Second public meeting date, time, location: August 27, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave N, Sauk Rapids, MN, 56379
Second public meeting additional details: 5 PM (doors open pre-meeting hour), 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm or until there are no more questions or comments (public hearing).
The public hearings will be presided over by the Honorable Megan McKenzie, an administrative law judge from the Office of Administrative Hearings, who will provide the Commission with a report including findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a recommendation. The purpose of the public hearings is to obtain public input on the proposed project and compile the record for the Commission to consider in making a final decision on the site and route permit applications. Specifically, interested persons will have the opportunity to: (1) ask questions of state staff and the applicant; (2) offer oral and written comments on the merits of the proposed project and on the environmental assessment; and (3) suggest possible conditions to be considered for inclusion in the site and route permits. Comments received at the hearings and during the comment period will be used to inform the record and help the Commission make its final decision. The information presented will be the same at all in-person and online hearings. The hearings 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 hearing, whichever occurs first. Members of the public may participate without the necessity of intervening as a party; representation by legal counsel is permitted but not required.
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Cezar Panait, 651-201-2207
General notices
Notices published in this section may be required under Minnesota Statute or Rule.
Appleton to Benson 115-kV transmission line - Public Hearings and EA availability
Notice description: the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings on a proposal to construct approximately 29 miles of new 115-kV high voltage transmission line (HVTL) by Great River Energy, Otter Tail Power Company, Western Municipal Power Agency (Missouri River Energy Services), Agralite Electric Cooperative, and the City of Benson, MN. The project consists of 2 proposed route segments. The first proposed route segment is approximately 27-miles and will upgrade, rebuild or reconductor existing transmission lines starting near the Appleton Substation in the City of Appleton and extend northeast, to Great River Energy's Benson Substation near the City of Benson. The second proposed route segment will be a new approximately 1.7-mile transmission line that will extend westerly from the Benson Substation near the City of Benson extending to interconnect with Great River Energy's existing AG-BK 115-kV transmission line.
Public meeting date, time, location: September 3, 2025, 10:00 a.m., Appleton Government Center, 323 West Schlieman Ave, Appleton, MN 56208
Public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Public meeting additional details: There will also be an evening in person hearing at 5 PM on September 3 at Northside Elementary Lunchroom, 1800 West Nevada Ave., Benson, MN 56215. The first hour of each in person meeting will be an informal hour for members of the public to ask questions off the record. During the formal hearing there will be a presentation by State agencies and the applicant, and the hearing will be presided over by a Judge. There will be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and make comments on the record. The environmental assessment is available at the edockets webpage.
Link to additional information: Appleton to Benson 115-kV transmission line additional information
Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Sam Lobby, 651-201-2205
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.
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 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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