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): La Grand Township; Douglas
Process: EAW
Step: EAW available
End of comment period: August 13, 2026
Project description: Pazdernik Properties, LLC proposes an aggregate mine on 97-acres in La Grand Township, Douglas County, MN. Operations include excavation, screening, crushing, and stockpiling of materials. Proposed lifespan is 50 years, after which the site will be restored to a usable condition for agricultural production, forest management/recreational uses, and rural residential development.
Pazdernik Gravel Pit - La Grand Township, MN project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Douglas County Land & Resource Management, 305 8th Ave W, Alexandria, MN 56308
Public meeting date, time, location: July 14, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Planning Advisory Commission Mtg, Conf Rm C, Douglas County Courthouse, 305 8th Ave W, Alexandria, MN 56308
Public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Douglas County, David Rush, 320-762-3863
Location (city/township; county): City of Tamarack, Clark Township; Aitkin
Process: EIS
Step: EIS Scoping EAW and Draft Scoping Decision
End of comment period: September 14, 2026
Project description: Talon Nickel USA LLC proposes to construct and operate an underground mine near Tamarack, Minnesota, to extract ore containing nickel, copper, and other metals that would be shipped by rail to concentrators located in Mercer County, North Dakota, and Marquette County, Michigan. Tailings would not be generated in Minnesota, and no tailings storage would occur in Minnesota
Tamarack Mining Project project link provided by RGU
Locations of public documents:
Duluth Public Library, 520 West Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802
DNR Library, 500 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155
Aitkin Public Library, 110 First Ave. NE, Aitkin, MN 56431
First public meeting date, time, location: August 5, 2026, 5:00 p.m., McGregor High School, 148 S 2nd Street, McGregor, MN 55760
Second public meeting date, time, location: August 12, 2026, 5:00 p.m., National Sports Center, 1750 105th Ave, Blaine, MN 55449
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Tamarack Project Manager, 651-259-5677
Location: Garvin Township, Lyon
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: August 10, 2026
Notice title: Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of Draft Permit (TL-26-132)
Notice description: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings on Coneflower Energy, LLC’s (Coneflower) application to construct a less than 1‐mile 345‐kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission line (HVTL). The proposed project is located 1‐mile north of Garvin and 13‐miles south of Marshall in Lyon County, Minnesota. The proposed project would connect Coneflower’s recently permitted solar energy generating system (GS‐24‐215) to the recently permitted Garvin Substation which is owned by Xcel Energy. Coneflower is requesting a variable route width of 600 to 1,325 feet for the proposed route so the route can accommodate the final constructed alignment of the Garvin substation. Additional information on the project can be found on the Commission's meeting webpage or by going to the Commission's eDocket system and searching the docket number 26-132.
Project description: In the Matter of the Application of Coneflower Energy, LLC for a Route Permit for the Coneflower 345 kV Transmission Line Project in Lyon County, Minnesota.
Location of public documents: Marshall-Lyon County Library, 201 C St, Marshall,
MN 56258
First public meeting date, time, location: July 29, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
First public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
First public meeting additional details: Webinar Number: 2490 931 2980
Webinar Password: Cone2025 (26632025 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2490 931 2980
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 hearing, use the raised-hand function or the chat function to send a message to the hearing moderator. If you are joining the hearing 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.
Second public meeting date, time, location: July 30, 2026, 6:00 p.m., 5 Family Ranch,
2717 Co Rd 6, Marshall, MN, 56258
Second public meeting additional details: The public hearings will be presided over by Senior Commission Staff, Desiree Morningstar, who will provide the Commission with a summary of public testimony. 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 route 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 (3) suggest possible conditions to be considered for inclusion in the route permit.
Comments received at the hearings and during the comment period will be used to inform the record and help the Commission make its final decision. The information presented will be the same at all in-person and online hearings. The hearings will end when all present attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded, or at the scheduled end time of the hearing, whichever occurs first. Accordingly, it is recommended that all interested persons arrive at the scheduled start time. Members of the public may participate without the necessity of intervening as a party; representation by legal counsel is permitted but not required.
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Jacques Harvieux, 651-201-2233
Location: Mankato, Blue Earth
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: July 27, 2026
Notice title: Notice of Complete Site Permit Application and Public Information Meetings
Notice description: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public information meetings on the proposed Mankato battery energy storage system (BESS) in Blue Earth County, Minnesota (project). The project is being proposed by Mankato Energy Center, LLC, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Onward Energy Holdings, LLC. You may find information on the project, including the application and Environmental Assessment completed by the applicant, on the Commission's project webpage.
Project description: The project, as proposed, includes a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility with a nominal power rating of up to 30 megawatts (MW) with approximately 60 megawatt-hours (MWh) of nameplate capacity. The project would be located within the existing 25.3 acre Mankato Energy Center, a 720 MW natural gas combined cycle power plant. If permitted, the project would begin construction in Q2 of 2027 with a commercial operation date in Q3 of 2028. The project would include battery storage enclosures, medium voltage skids, underground electrical collection lines, stand-alone switchgear, step down transformer, a short underground 115 kV gen-tie line (less than 800 feet in length) and other associated BESS components. Project information is located in the Commission's eDocket system via eDocket Number 26-158.
Mankato Battery Energy Storage System project link provided by RGU
Location of public documents: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place East, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55101
First public meeting date, time, location: July 14, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Maverick Innovation Gateway, Meeting Room 118, 230 Stadium Road, Mankato, MN, 56001
First public meeting additional details: Doors will open 60 minutes prior to the meeting to provide attendees an opportunity to review the application, maps, and other materials for the proposed project and ask questions of state staff and the applicant. During this time, comments made by attendees will become a part of the record for Commission consideration only if the attendee submits the comment in writing or to the court reporter. Forms for written comments and a court reporter will be available for this purpose. Public Meeting Information. Commission staff will facilitate the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting, as outlined in Chapter 216I, includes the following: 1. Provide information about the proposed project and the state's permitting process, and present major issues. 2. Accept public comments on the need for and scope of an addendum to the environmental assessment (EA) included in the application. 3. Commission staff will describe the sample site permit for BESS projects and explain how the applicant will be required to construct and operate the project in accordance with all conditions of the permit, if issued. 4. Respond to questions raised by the public. At this time, any verbal comments you make at the meetings will become part of the record. You may also submit written comments for the record.
Second public meeting date, time, location: July 15, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
Second public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Second public meeting additional details: Webinar Number: 2486 216 6812
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 from phones)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330
Toll Free Access Code: 2486 216 6812
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,
Cezar Panait, 651-201-2207
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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7/3/2026
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Lake City
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Wabasha
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Lake Pepin
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Bass, Boatfins, Bluegills
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40
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7/5/2026
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Randall
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Morrison
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Round Lake
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Bluegill
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120
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7/6/2026
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Starbuck
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Pope
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Lake Minnewaska
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Not specified
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100
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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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