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

• 9
• EQB board meeting proposed agenda, June 19, 2013: Agenda and accompanying materials for meeting, June 19, 2013. (161.96K, .pdf) | Agenda details
• Second EQB workshop with Governors' Institute on Community Design June 20 : The workshop will be held on Thursday, June 20, from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, at the Minnesota Veteran’s Service Building 5th Floor Conference Room. There will be no public testimony, but the public is welcome to attend and observe. | Notice details
• Silica Sand Report Issued: The March 2013 report was prepared at the request of the Environmental Quality Board to look at issues related to the silica sand mining industry and prepare information on what is known and what is not known. | Notice details
• Mandatory Environmental Review Categories Report issued: The Mandatory Environmental Review Categories Report reviews the mandatory categories currently included in Minn. R. 4410. The report was prepared in response to Minnesota laws 2012, Chapter 150—S.F. No. 1567, Article 2, Section 3 | Notice details
• New contact information at the EQB: Please update your contact information | Notice 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
• Calendar: Schedule for public meetings, hearings and deadlines for comment | Notice details
• Agendas and minutes: The Environmental Quality Board regularly meets on a monthly 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

Ongoing projects and studies

• 1
• 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)

Completed projects and studies

• 7
• Executive Order 11-32 projects: At its November 14, 2012 board meeting, the EQB approved recommendations for improving environmental review, recommendations for improving environmental governance and coordination, and the Minnesota Environment and Energy Report Card, in fulfillment of Executive Order 11-32. (Project record)
• Minnesota Environment and Energy Report Card: The Minnesota Environment and Energy Report Card was prepared by the EQB to fulfill the directive of Executive Order 11-32 to, “[b]y November 15,2012,…prepare an environmental and energy report card that identifies metrics which the State of Minnesota can use to measure its performance and progress protecting Minnesota's valuable air, water and land resources. Once initially established, the environment and energy report card shall be an annual report with renewed priorities, initiatives, and goals and an updated report card.”, November 21, 2012. (2.1 M, .pdf) | Report details
• Evaluation and Recommendations for Improving Environmental Review: The report, Evaluation and Recommendations for Improving Environmental Review, was prepared by the EQB to fulfill the directive of Executive Order 11-32 to, “[b]y November 15,2012,… evaluate and make recommendations on how to improve environmental review, given the changes made in Chapter 4, House File 1, and the recommendations contained in the Office of the Legislative Auditor Environmental Review and Permitting Report.”, November 21, 2012. (1.29 M, .pdf) | Report details
• 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)
• 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)

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