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): Northwest Roseau Unorganized; Kittson, Roseau
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: September 25, 2025
Project description: The Roseau River Watershed District is proposing a multi-component project to restore the hydrology and natural habitats within the Roseau River WMA and Beaches Lake WMA. The project components include the abandonment of State Ditch 69 (SD 69) and SD 72 laterals, meandering and two-stage floodplain establishment of Badger Creek (SD 69 Lateral 1 and 3), and restoring bed and slopes of SD 69 and SD 20. The project will restore hydrology to the large wetland and peatland complexes that make up the WMAs. Following restoration, the natural habitats will regenerate and provide improved functionality, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. An additional component includes the construction of the Whitney Lake floodwater impoundment to provide flood damage reduction in the Whitney Lake sub-watershed.
Juneberry Area Project project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Roseau River Watershed District Office, 714 6th Street Southwest, Roseau, MN 56751
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Roseau River Watershed District,
Tracy Halstengard, 218-463-0313
Location (city/township; county): Lake Elmo; Washington
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: September 25, 2025
Project description: The Limerick Village project is a proposed mixed-use development consisting of single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and a senior living / assisted living center on a 79.4 acre agriculture site in the City of Lake Elmo, Washington County, Minnesota. It is located adjacent to Manning Ave N (CSAH 15) and will include internal roads, a stormwater feature, and connection to municipal utilities.
Limerick Village project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Lake Elmo City Hall, 3880 Laverne Avenue N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Lake Elmo, Sophia Jensen,
651-747-3911
Location (city/township; county): Rogers; Hennepin
Process: AUAR update
Step: Revised AUAR
End of comment period: September 10, 2025
Project description: An update to the Alternative Urban Areawide Review for an approximately 135 acre area in the west central area of the city. The update corresponds to an original AUAR approved on June 24, 2014, which was subsequently updated on 2020. The proposed update reflects updated conditions and is being updated in advance of potential light industrial development. The update is pursuant to MN Rules 4410.3610 Subp. 7 which requires the document be updated every five years.
Henry Area 2025 AUAR Update - Rogers, MN project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Rogers City Hall, 22350 S Diamond Lake Rd, Rogers,
MN 55374
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Rogers, Brett Angell, 763-494-0915
General notices
Notices published in this section may be required under Minnesota Statute or Rule.
Notice of Public Information and Environmental Assessment Scoping Meeting (ESS-25-214) - Blue Lake Battery Energy Storage Project
Notice description: Docket Number: E002/ESS-25-214 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings on Xcel Energy's application for a 135.5-Megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system in Scott County, Minnesota. Northern States Power d/b/a Xcel Energy proposes to construct and operate a battery energy storage system with a nominal power rating of up to 135.5 MW alternating current with approximately 542 megawatt-hours of energy capacity on a site of approximately 70 acres in the City of Shakopee, Scott County, Minnesota. The Company identified the area adjacent to the Blue Lake Peaking Plant and Blue Lake Substation as an appropriate site for the storage project. The proposed site is on land currently owned by Xcel Energy.
First public meeting date, time, location: September 10, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
First public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
First public meeting additional details: Webinar Number: 2495 890 4268
Webinar Password: Bluelake2025 (25835254 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2495 890 4268
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: September 11, 2025, 6:00 p.m.,
Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St. South, Shakopee MN 55379
Second 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 an opportunity to participate in developing the scope of the Environmental Assessment (EA). Commission staff and the applicant will both make presentations during the meeting. Commission 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. Written comments will be accepted through September 25, 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 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?
Submit Comments Online
Email: suzanne.steinhauer@state.mn.us
U.S. Mail:
ATTN: Suzanne Steinhauer
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
121 7th Place East, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55101
Link to additional information: Blue Lake Battery Energy Storage Project 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.
|
Date
|
Location
|
County
|
Waterbody
|
Species
|
Count
|
|
8/18/2025
|
Spicer
|
Kandiyohi
|
George Lake
|
Crappies
|
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 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.
|
