Minnesota Environmental Quality Board

The Environmental Quality Board brings together the Governor’s Office (as chair), five citizens and the heads of nine state agencies that play a vital role in Minnesota’s environment and development. The board develops policy, creates long-range plans and reviews proposed projects that would significantly influence Minnesota’s environment.

Notices

• 15
• EQB Meeting Proposed Agenda, January 18, 2012: Agenda and accompanying materials for meeting, January 18, 2012. (20.17K, .pdf) | Agenda details
• EQB Board meeting proposed agenda, December 22, 2011: Agenda and accompanying materials for meeting, December 22, 2011. (20.05K, .pdf) | Agenda details
• Governor Dayton Moves to Simplify Minnesota’s Environmental Review Process: Media Release with links to Executive Order 11-32 and a Progress Report on Successes in Permitting Reform | Notice details
• EQB requests input at Nov. 18 meeting on its future agenda : Letter from EQB Chair providing update on progress and inviting continued conversation | Notice details
• EQB calls special meeting for Nov. 18, 2011: The EQB will meet on Nov. 18, 2011 from 9 am to noon at the MPCA | Notice details
• EQB has moved effective September 15, 2011: Please update your contact information | Notice details
• EQB board meeting agenda, November 18, 2011: Agenda and accompanying materials for meeting, November 18, 2011. (25.03K, .pdf) | Agenda details
• 100 signatures now required for EAW petition : The environmental review statute was amended during the 2011 legislative session to increase the number of signatures required for a petition for an environmental assessment worksheet from 25 to 100. The statute was also amended to require that the petitioners must reside or own property in the state | Notice details
• Comments received in response to preliminary request: environmental review rulemaking with respect to greenhouse gases (amendment of Minn. Rules part 4410.4300, subp. 15): This matter is scheduled for the September 21, 2011 special meeting of the EQB. Please see the notice above and meeting information on this website, September 15, 2011. (6.5 M, .pdf) | Comment details
• Comments received during the comment period: environmental review rulemaking with respect to greenhouse gases (amendment of Minn. Rules part 4410.4300, subp. 15): This matter is scheduled for the September 21, 2011 special meeting of the EQB. Please see the notice above and meeting information on this website, September 15, 2011. (7.01 M, .pdf) | Comment details
• 2009 Amendments to environmental review rules now in effect: Notice of 2009 Rule Amendments | Notice details
• Calendar: Schedule for public meetings, hearings and deadlines for comment | Notice details
• Agendas and minutes: The Environmental Quality Board meets on a quarterly basis | Notice details
• EQB Monitor: A bi-weekly publication announcing environmental review documents, public comment periods and other actions of the Environmental Quality Board. | Notice details
• Customer satisfaction survey: Provide feedback on services provided by the Environmental Quality Board and board staff, January 6, 2009. (HTML page) | Comment details

Ongoing projects and studies

• 7
• Minnesota River integrated watershed, water quality and ecosystem restoration study: The Environmental Quality Board co-chairs this federal – state study to provide the river community with new tools for understanding how local water and land use choices affect the basin. (Project record)
• Interagency water monitoring technical workgroup : An interagency group of water monitoring technical experts meets on a regular basis to ensure efficiency and interagency coordination. (Project record)
• Groundwater technical workgroup: DNR led a team of expert hydrologists to evaluate tools for sustainability. (Project record)
• Water availability project: Enviromental Quality Board sets course for water sustainability. (Project record)
• Biennial water priorities report: Minnesota Statutes directs the Environmental Quality Board to coordinate state water programs and develop a biennial water policy and priorities report. (Project record)
• Water sustainability assessment: This assessment is used to create a framework for understanding potential constraints to future development through the routine estimation of water demand and its comparison to known supplies. (Project record)
• Pressing natural resources issues for the LCCMR: At its September 21, 2006 meeting, the Environmental Quality Board approved a report on the state's pressing natural resources issues for submission to the Legislative Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources. (Project record)

Completed projects and studies

• 7
• State water plan: The Environmental Quality Board is charged with initiating, coordinating, and developing a comprehensive long-range water resources planning report, to be completed every 10 years. (Project record)
• 2010 Minnesota Water Plan: A ten year framework for managing Minnesota's water, November 29, 2010. (15.5M, PDF) | Report details
• Groundwater Protection Spending Proposal: MPCA report to the Legislature January 2010, February 11, 2010. (722.88K, .pdf) | Report details
• Environmental Review Streamlining Report: MPCA report on environmental review streamlining, February 11, 2010. (329.04K, .pdf) | Report details
• Amending the Environmental Review program rules - Phase 2: Amendments to Environmental Review Program Rules effective November 23, 2009. The "Phase 2" amendments, authorized for rulemaking on June 15, 2006 and adopted with modifications on June 18, 2009 by the EQB, were published in the State Register on November 16 and became effective on November 23, 2009. (Project record)
• Managing for water sustainability: report of the EQB Water Availability project: Calls for important new steps to protect the state’s water supplies, December 11, 2008. (1.1 M, PDF) | Report details
• Generic Environmental Impact Statement for animal agriculture: Study of effect of feedlots. (Project record)

Environmental Quality Board, 520 Lafayette Road North, Saint Paul, MN 55155