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.
Erba Expansion
Location: Grasston; Pine
Process: Petition
Step: Responsible governmental unit assigned
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Royalton Township, Duane Swanson,
320-396-2982
Location (city/township; county): Kelsey Township; St. Louis
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: July 2, 2026
Project description: The proposed project includes the restoration of Jenkins Creek, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) public water. The project will restore approximately 18,447 linear feet (3.5 miles) of Jenkins Creek to optimal conditions for entrenchment and floodplain connectivity and introduce riffles and lateral scour pools associated with meandering channels.
Location of public documents: St. Louis County Planning Department, 201 South 3rd Avenue West, Virginia, MN 55792
Responsible governmental unit and contact: St. Louis County Planning Department,
Ryan Logan, 218-471-7622
Location (city/township; county): Minnetonka; Hennepin
Process: AUAR update
Step: AUAR update adoption
End of comment period: May 5, 2026
Responsible governmental unit decision: Adequate
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: May 18, 2026
Project description: The Opus Study Area is approximately 580 acres located in the southeastern corner of the City of Minnetonka, generally bounded by TH 62 and the City of Eden Prairie to the south, TH 169 and the City of Edina to the east, Smetana Road and the City of Hopkins to the north, and Shady Oak Road (CR 61) and the western edge of Section 36 to the west. The 2021 AUAR evaluated two development scenarios. Scenario 1 is generally consistent with the growth planning within the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan and has not changed. Scenario 2 reflects a more development-intensive land use plan than Scenario 1.
Opus Study Area project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: City of Minnetonka, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Minnetonka, Susan Thomas,
952-939-8292
Location: Haverhill and Viola Townships
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: June 25, 2026
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 three (3) public hearings on the application of Lemon Hill Solar, LLC (Lemon Hill Solar) for a site permit application to construct and operate a 180 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generating facility and associated infrastructure (project) in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Ranger Power LLC is developing the project on behalf of Lemon Hill Solar. There will be two in-person hearings and one virtual (WebEx) hearing. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission issued an environmental assessment (EA) for the project. The purpose of the EA is to provide information on the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project, possible mitigations for identified impacts, and evaluation of any alternatives contained in the scoping decision.
Project description: Lemon Hill Solar proposes to develop the project on approximately 963 to 1,067 acres within a site of 1,956 acres in Haverhill and Viola Townships.
Location of public documents: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place E Saint Paul, MN 55101
First public meeting date, time, location: June 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m., 125 Live, 125 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Second public meeting date, time, location: June 10, 2026, 6:00 p.m., 125 Live, 125 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester, MN 55901
First and Second public meetings additional details: 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 permit application. 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 permit. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to each in-person hearing to provide attendees an opportunity to review documents, maps, and other materials for the proposed project and ask questions of state staff and the Applicant. The first in-person public hearing will begin at 12PM and has a posted end time of 3PM. The second in-person public hearing will begin at 6PM and has a posted end time of 9PM. The hearings will end when all attendees have had an opportunity to provide comments or when the posted end times are reached, whichever occurs first. Please arrive at the start time to ensure participation.
Third public meeting date, time, location: June 11, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
Third public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Third public meeting additional details: The online public hearing will begin at 6PM and has a posted end time of 9PM. The hearing will end when all attendees have had an opportunity to provide comments or when the posted end time is reached, whichever occurs first. Please arrive the start time to ensure participation.
Webinar Number: 2486 743 1944
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2486 743 1944
If you are joining the hearing 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 Commission's meetings webpage.
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Lauren Agnew, 651-201-2198
General notices
Notices published in this section may be required under Minnesota Statute or Rule.
Highway (Hwy) 8 Improvement Project - Finding of No Significant Impact
Notice description: Chisago County proposes to improve pavement conditions, vehicle safety, and vehicle mobility on Hwy 8 from I-35 in Forest Lake to Karmel Ave in Chisago City. The project plans to preserve the pavement from I-35 to Hwy 61, reconstructing Hwy 8 as a four-lane highway from east of Goodview Cir to East Viking Blvd and reconstructing the two-lane rural section highway from East Viking Blvd to Karmel Ave. Improvements also include local road connections/reconstruction, stormwater pond construction, intersection improvements, and construction of a multi-use trail on the north side of Hwy 8 from Hwy 61 to Karmel Ave. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027. FHWA finds the elements of this project and the environmental impacts caused thereby have been adequately identified and assessed in the Oct. 2025 EA as prepared by Chisago County and MnDOT. FHWA hereby finds that this project will not cause significant environmental impacts.
Link to additional information: Highway 8 Improvement project additional information
Contact: Chisago County, Joe Triplett, 651-213-8708
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.
|
