Welcome to the summer recap/fall kickoff edition of the EQB newsletter. The end of summer brought some great opportunities to get out, meet people, and talk about key issues - and we're looking forward to continuing that into the fiscal year.
In August, the Board approved the staff's FY26 workplan (which covers July 2025 to June 2026), and we're moving forward a lot of important items this year.
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Pollinators – We had a great time talking to folks about pollinators at the North American Monarch Summit, Minneapolis Pollinator Party, the Minnesota State Fair, and the Nokomis Monarch Festival. In FY26, we are increasing our focus on sharing information and connecting people doing pollinator-supporting projects. |
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Water – In mid-September, we published the 2025 Groundwater Policy Report, which discusses the coordination of state groundwater protection programs and includes some detailed water assessments provided by member agencies. This report highlights some key challenges to groundwater quality and quantity around the state and is designed to support informed decision-making on groundwater issues. The Board approved the report in August, and a final version, along with appendices, can be found on our Water Programs webpage. |
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Environmental review support – The workplan also continues our focus on supporting those completing environmental review by updating guidance for content, clarity, and accessibility. Following the success of our ER101 training, we're planning additional trainings on various parts of the ER program, including an upcoming webinar on using the submittal portal. If you have ideas for trainings, please contact the ER team at Env.Review@state.mn.us |
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Climate and health in ER – In 2018 and 2019, the Board discussed some big picture changes to environmental review, such as the inclusion of climate information and the potential for consideration of health impacts. In 2025, we launched the climate calculator tool to help project proposers and RGUs include climate information in their ER documents. We'll be making some minor updates to the calculator in FY26, responding to input from users of the calculator. With the strides made on the climate issue, in the second half of the fiscal year we plan to return to the discussion of how health effects might be better considered in environmental review. |
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Rulemaking – In 2024 and 2025, the Legislature directed the EQB to take on a few revisions to the state's environmental review program. First up are changes to align the larger environmental review rules in chapter 4410 with changes made to the process for the review and permitting of certain large energy infrastructure projects. At the September board meeting, the board approved for staff to move forward with putting the energy rule on notice. For more details on how to submit comments and receive updates, sign up for our rulemaking mailing list. |
The Board also determined in the spring to move forward with developing a mandatory category for gas production. Staff are researching options and will be sharing more information this fall and winter. We project a proposed rule in the spring of 2026.
Finally, the legislature directed that the rules be changed to no longer require an EAW as a scoping document for mandatory EISs. We expect to share more about this rule in early 2026.All of these rules are directed to be completed with expedited and exempt processes, so they are limited in scope. Check out our rulemaking web page for more information on submitting your comments.
We've got a lot of great stuff on our plates this year - we'll be keeping busy! Again, stay tuned to our website, the EQB Monitor, and various emails lists for more.
Roots for the Future
In August, students from Roots for the Future attended the board meeting and presented on their experiences in the summer program. Presentations varied from learning about new career paths in environmental work, to helping create safer communities and care for those in need.
EQB has a history with youth engagement. Since 2013, effort and initiatives, like the Emerging Environmental Leaders program, have been a great way to get youth involved in what we do. We plan to continue to work with Root for the Future and plan for more youth engagement in the coming year.
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In the works...
EQB staff continue to work on updating the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) guidance, producing a web-based accessible document to assist RGUs in interpreting Minn. Rule 4410.3610. The guidance will focus on applicability of the AUAR to residential, commercial, light industrial and warehouse development and provide step-by-step actions for completing the process.
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Climate guidance
EQB's climate guidance, which gives direction for RGUs to fill out the climate portions of their EAWs, is getting an update! The goals of these edits are to incorporate the new Minnesota Climate Calculator, as well as streamlining information to make it clearer and more digestible for readers. The information and outcomes gleaned from the climate guidance aren't changing, but the following updates will be made:
- Standardizing language between the climate guidance, the Climate Calculator, and EAW worksheet to reduce confusion.
- Removing excess justification for the climate portions of the EAW.
- Making the Climate Calculator and its documentation a companion resource of the climate guidance.
- Updating portions to remove outdated tool walkthroughs.
- Reviewing the document for accessibility issues.
These edits will take place over the next few months and an updated climate guidance document will be released in early January.
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Can a local government unit (LGU) act as the responsible government unit (RGU) for projects where they are also the proposer?
Yes. LGUs commonly serve as the RGU for projects they are proposing. Rule requires they act as the RGU when they are the sole proposer, have sole jurisdiction over project approvals, or have the greatest responsibility for approving the project as a whole. The rules offer no mechanism for disqualifying an RGU because of an alleged bias.
This was a busy summer for us!
June - We co-sponsored and tabled at the North American Monarch Summit that showcased the work and international collaboration needed to protect the monarch butterfly and other pollinators.
July - We tabled at the Minneapolis Pollinator Party to celebrate the bees and the birds and raise awareness about how we can all help protect them.
August - At the Minnesota State Fair, EQB once again partnered with the MPCA and DNR to celebrate Pollinator Day at the fair, including a permanent pollinator display in the Eco Experience building, the participation of pollinator-related organizations as exhibitors at the DNR grounds, and a panel of experts in different pollinator-related subjects who answered questions from the public.
September - EQB staff had a table at the Minneapolis Monarch Festival, where we joined many organizations in celebrating the monarch butterfly.
At all of these wonderful events, we shared information about the interagency efforts we lead to protect pollinators, distributing native seed packets, information about protecting pollinators from pesticides, monarch tattoos, a bee game and pollinator-themed buttons. We look forward to seeing you all out there again next year!
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Fall and Pollinators
Date: Thursday, October 2
Time: 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. (CDT)
The Environmental Quality Board in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, the Xerces Society, Metro Blooms, and the University of Minnesota Bee Lab is organizing the webinar “Fall and Pollinators”. Learn how pollinators survive cold winters, and actions we can take to help them overwinter successfully. Register below! Once registered, you'll receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Environmental Review 101: Using the submittal service
Date: Tuesday, October 21
Time: 11:00 a.m. - Noon
Join EQB staff for a free webinar on using the Monitor online submittal service, an essential tool in completing environmental review publishing requirements. This session will cover submittal deadlines, account set up, and step-by-step guidance for submitting notices and documents. Staff will highlight common errors and share troubleshooting tips to help users resolve issues quickly.
The EQB Monitor, our weekly publication announcing environmental review documents, regularly includes fish kill reports from across the state? These reports list public waters where significant numbers of fish have died (hundreds in some cases), often including what species are affected. It’s part of how we keeps tabs on acute water quality issues — and provide a public, timely way for Minnesotans to be aware of events that affect lakes, rivers, and aquatic life.
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