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): Park Rapids; Hubbard
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: May 28, 2026
Project description: A new county park at Deep Lake will be developed to include a park entrance road and trail, parking, a picnic shelter, a trailhead building, campgrounds with up to four cabins and 43 campsites, and a restroom building, six cart-in campsites, and mountain bike, hiking, and cross-country ski trails.
Location of public documents: Hubbard County Environmental Services, 301 Court Avenue, Park Rapids, MN 56470
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Hubbard County, Eric Buitenwerf,
218-732-3890 2356
Location (city/township; county): Sartell; Stearns
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision
Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (no EIS ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: April 13, 2026
Project description: Niron Magnetics proposes to develop a portion of an approximately 63-acre site in Sartell, MN to construct a manufacturing facility in two phases with a finished square footage of approximately 287,000 square feet. The facility will produce rare earth-free permanent magnets using Niron's novel process and material.
Niron Magnetics EAW project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Sartell City Hall, 125 Pincone Road North, Sartell,
MN 56379
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Sartell, Kari Haakonson,
320-258-2171
Location (city/township; county): Chaska; Carver
Process: Large AUAR
Step: AUAR adoption
Responsible governmental unit decision: Adequate
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: April 21, 2026
Project description: The AUAR study area encompasses an area totaling approximately 359 acres on 17 parcels in the City of Chaska and Dahlgren Township, Carver County, Minnesota. The study area is located northwest of Chaska Boulevard and US 212. Two parcels within the AUAR study area are located within Dahlgren Township; these parcels are intended to be annexed into the City of Chaska. Two development scenarios are proposed to be evaluated in the AUAR. Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 both include Business Park (industrial/office) and Commercial land uses.
Location of public documents: Chaska City Hall, 1 City Hall Plaza, Chaska, MN 55318
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Chaska, Elizabeth Hanson,
952-448-9200
Location (city/township; county): Kalmar Township, Olmsted
Process: Alternative review
Notice title: Notice of Final Permit Decision
Notice description: Docket No. IP‐7148/ESS-24-406 & IP-7149/ESS-24-407
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in an order issued on April 8, 2026, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission: (1) Adopted the ALJ's Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendations to the extent they are consistent with the Commission's decision; (2) Determined that the Environmental Assessment and the record created at the public hearings and subsequent comment period address the issues identified in the Scoping Decision; (3) Adopted the permit conditions recommended by the ALJ and one modified permit condition (which can be viewed in the issued order and permits) and; (4) Issued the Proposed Site Permits for the Crane Energy Storage Project and Sandhill Energy Storage Project in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Project description: The Crane & Sandhill Energy Storage Projects are battery energy storage systems (BESS) with respective nominal power ratings of up to 200 MW alternative current (AC) with approximately 800 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy capacity in Kalmar Township in Olmsted County. In addition to batteries, racking, and enclosures, the facilities will also include inverts and transformers, a stormwater drainage basin, storage and parkin areas, and fencing surrounding the perimeter of the facility. The Projects will also include three shared project facilities, including the collector substation, gen-tie line, and primary access road. The facilities will be connected to the electrical grid through a 161 kilovolt (kV) gen-tie line of approximately 700 feet between the shared project substation and the adjacent Bryon Substation.
Location of public documents: Rochester Public Library, 607 1st Street NW Rochester, MN 55944
Responsible governmental unit and 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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4/16/2026
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Vineland
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Mille Lacs
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Rum River
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Northern Pike, White sucker
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500
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4/20/2026
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Apple Valley
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Dakota
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Cobblestone Lake
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Bluegill, Crappie
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Not quantified
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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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