Comment on the Pillsbuty A-Mill Hydro EAW

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has prepared the attached Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) to describe the environmental effects associated with the Pillsbury A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project, located in Hennepin County, Minnesota. This document has been prepared as a Mandatory EAW pursuant to Minnesota Rules, part 4410.4300, subpart 24 Water Appropriation and Impoundments. The DNR is the Responsible Governmental Unit for the environmental review of this project. The EAW is based off of an Environmental Assessment (EA) that has been conducted in accordance with Federal NEPA Requirements. This EA and its supporting studies have been incorporated into the EAW as Attachment 1.

Download the EAW (zip file, 12.8MB)...

A 30-day public review and comment period will begin on May 11, 2015, with the publication of the notice of availability of this EAW in the EQB Monitor.  The DNR invites public comments on the EAW during the public review period from May 11, 2015 to June 10, 2015 at 4:30 pm.  A copy of the EAW is available for public review at:

·         DNR Library, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4025

·         DNR Central Region, 1200 Warner Road, St. Paul, MN55106

·         Minneapolis Central Library, Government Documents, 2nd Floor, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1992

The EAW is also posted on the DNR’s website at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html è Public Inputè Environmental Reviewè See Pillsbury A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project EAW in the drop down list.

Written comments must be received by Wednesday, June 10, 2015, at 4:30 pm and sent to: 

Kate Frantz, EAW Project Manager

Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological and Water Resources

500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55155-4025

Electronic or e-mail comments may be sent to Environmentalrev.dnr@state.mn.us with “Pillsbury A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project EAW” in the subject line.  If submitting comments electronically, please include your name and U.S. mailing address.  Signed written comments may be sent via facsimile to (651) 296-1811.  For additional information, or copies of the EAW, please call (651) 259-5082.

Attachments:

Pillsbury A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project EAW

Pillsbury A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project Figures

Attachment 1: Environmental Assessment. This document is appended by the following reports:

-          Final Report: Unionid Survey for the A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project

-          Fish Entrainment and Mortality Study (A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project)

-          Hydraulic Modeling of Channel Downstream of the A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project

Download the EAW (zip file, 12.8MB)...