Weekly announcements and environmental review notices

Volume 50, Number 24                                                                                              June 16, 2026

Announcements

Environmental Quality Board meeting

Wednesday, June 17, 1 – 4:00 p.m. Join us for the June 2026 Environmental Quality Board meeting. At this meeting, the Executive Director will provide an organizational overview and share project updates. EQB staff will also share an update on health in environmental review.

More information can be found on the board meeting webpage, including the meeting packet and details on attending the meeting virtually or in person.

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.

Crissy Lake Dam Modifications

Location (city/township; county): Morris; Stevens
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: July 16, 2026

Project description: The Pomme de Terre River Association is proposing a multi-component project to restore the hydrology and natural habitats of the Pomme de Terre River through Crissy Lake in the City of Morris, Minnesota. The project components include removal of the Crissy Lake Dam, installation of two rock arch rapids to replace the existing structure, and channel restoration extending from the existing dam to the upstream end of Crissy Lake.

Location of public documents: Morris Public Library, 102 E 6th Street, Morris, MN 56267

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Review Unit
Yvette Gault, 651-259-5516

I-494: Airport to 169

Location (city/township; county): Bloomington; Hennepin
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision
Joint federal and state review: Yes

Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (no EIS ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: June 9, 2026

Project description: The Project will add E-ZPass lanes on Interstate 494 between West Bush Lake Rd. and East Bush Lake Rd. and between Lyndale Ave. and 24th Ave.; reconstruct existing interchanges at Highway 77 and I-494 and 82nd St. and I-35W; replace pavement on I-494 and I-35W; and include ramp and/or bridge work at: West Bush Lake Rd., East Bush Lake Rd., I-494/Hwy 100, France Ave., Xerxes Ave., I-494 and I-35W, Lyndale Ave., Portland Ave., and 24th Ave. It will also include improvements across frontage roads, sidewalks, trails, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), noise walls, drainage, and retaining walls. It will reconstruct the two track Progressive Railroad bridge over I-494 and replace it as a single track. The removed railroad siding will be replaced south of the main Project.
I-494: Airport to 169 project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: MnDOT Waters Edge, 1500 County Road B2, Roseville,
MN 55113

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Department of Transportation,
Andrew Lutaya, 651-234-7560

North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District (NZSSD)

Location (city/township; county): Zumbrota; Goodhue
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision

Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (no EIS ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: June 3, 2026

Project description: The Project involves the creation of a new regional sanitary district (Project) to serve the communities of Goodhue, Pine Island (Prairie Island Indian Community), Wanamingo, and Zumbrota with a combined population of approximately 10,460 residents as of 2026. The Project includes construction of a new wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) on the edge of the City of Zumbrota, with the site extending into Zumbrota Township, along with pump stations and conveyance lines (forcemains) to connect all four communities to the new WWTF.
North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District (NZSSD) project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette
Road N, Saint Paul, MN 55155

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 
Doree Husnik, 651-757-2374

TI-OPP-29699

Location (city/township; county): Russia; Polk
Process: EAW
Step: EIS need decision

Responsible governmental unit decision: Negative (no EIS ordered)
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: June 2, 2026

Project description: Tillman Infrastructure proposes to build a new 355' telecommunication guyed tower for Verizon Wireless and additional future carriers. The proposed tower will have a 7.5' raised platform for all ground equipment so it will be above the flood plain. Additionally, a new gravel driveway will be installed to give access to the proposed tower site.
TI-OPP-29699 project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Polk County Transfer Station, 320 Ingersoll Ave,
Crookston, MN 56716

Responsible governmental unit and contact: Polk County Environmental Services,
Jacob Snyder, 218-281-5700

Hillview Business Park

Location (city/township; county): Arden Hills; Ramsey
Process: EIS
Step: EIS Scoping EAW and Draft Scoping Decision
End of comment period: July 16, 2026

Project description: Maplewood Development, Inc. proposes a 62-acre, 972,200 square foot warehouse/distribution/office park development near the corner of County Road I and Fairview Avenue, on property formerly associated with the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) operations, in Arden Hills, Minnesota. The Hillview Business Park development requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to be prepared after this scoping EAW. The project will demolish existing abandoned buildings, undertake environmental remediation, and construct several warehouse/distribution buildings with associated utilities and access on the site.
Hillview Business Park project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Arden Hills City Hall, 1245 W Highway 96, Arden Hills,
MN 55112

Public meeting date, time, location: July 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m., Arden Hills City Hall, lower level, 1245 W Highway 96, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Arden Hills, Jake Reilly,
612-746-4046

Updated Hermantown Industrial AUAR

Location (city/township; county): Hermantown; St. Louis
Process: Large AUAR
Step: Draft AUAR
End of comment period: July 16, 2026

Project description: This AUAR study area encompasses an area totaling approximately 278 acres on 26 parcels in the City of Hermantown, St. Louis County, Minnesota. The study area is bounded to the north by Morris Thomas Road, to the east by Midway Road, and to the west by Solway Road. The southern boundary of the study area extends parallel to Saint Louis River Road, approximately 0.25 miles to the north. One development scenario is proposed to be evaluated in the AUAR. The development scenario includes multiple buildings totaling 1.8 million square feet of proposed light industrial development.
Updated Hermantown Industrial AUAR project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: City of Hermantown, 5105 Maple Grove Road,
Hermantown, MN 55811

Open house date, time, location: June 24, 2026, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Google Community Information Open House, AAD Shrine Meeting and Event Center, 5152 Miller Trunk Highway, Hermantown, MN 55811
Public meeting date, time, location: September 8, 2026, 6:30 p.m., City Council, City of Hermantown, 5105 Maple Grove Road, Hermantown, MN 55811

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Hermantown, Eric Johnson,
218-729-3600

Fields of Andover AUAR

Location (city/township; county): Andover; Anoka
Process: Large AUAR
Step: AUAR adoption

Responsible governmental unit decision: Adequate
Responsible governmental unit record of decision date: June 2, 2026

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.
Fields of Andover AUAR project link provided by RGU

Location of public documents: Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW,
Andover, MN 55304

Responsible governmental unit and contact: City of Andover, Joe Janish, 763-767-5140

Mayhew Lake Energy Storage

Location: Sauk Rapids Township, Benton
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: July 13, 2026

Notice title: NOTICE OF COMPLETE SITE PERMIT APPLICATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS
Notice description: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public information and scoping meetings on the site permit application of Mayhew Lake BESS, LLC (applicant) for the 100 Megawatt (MW) Mayhew Lake Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Benton County, Minnesota.

Project description: Mayhew Lake Energy Storage, LLC (Mayhew Lake) proposes to construct and operate a battery energy storage system with a nominal power rating of up to 100 MW alternating current with approximately 400 megawatt-hours of energy capacity on a site consisting of approximately 37 acres adjacent to the Northern States Power Mayhew Lake Substation in Sauk Rapids Township, Benton County, Minnesota. In addition to battery energy storage enclosures, the facility will also include a project substation, power conversion facilities (inverters and transformers), underground collection cables, an operations and maintenance (O&M) building, and other associated facilities, such as fencing, access roads, and stormwater basins. The project will connect to the existing Northern States Power Mayhew Lake Substation via an approximately 250-foot, 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line. Project information is located in the Commission’s eDocket system via eDocket Number 26-112.

Location of public documents: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place East, St. Paul, MN 55101

First public meeting date, time, location: June 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m., Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave. N., Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
First public meeting additional details: There will be an open house from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. to allow attendees to review the application, maps, and other materials for the proposed project and ask questions of state staff and the applicant. During the Open House, comments made by attendees will become part of the record for Commission consideration only if the attendee submits the comment in writing. Forms will be available for this purpose.

Second public meeting date, time, location: July 1, 2026, 5:00 p.m., Online meeting
Second public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Second public meeting additional details: Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Access Code: 2496 241 6407
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 raised-hand function or the chat function 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, 
Sam Weaver, 651-539-1531

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.

Access the EQB monitor submission service

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.