EQB logo
Buildings Demography Environment GIS Information Policy Technology Transportation More subjects

Minnesota Environmental Quality Board: Programs and Projects

Programs

Ongoing

Inactive

  • Critical areas: Identifies areas of critical concern and works with local units of government for their wise use. (Program web site)
  • Radioactive waste program: Studies issues related to storage and production of radioactive waste. (Program web site)
  • Energy Facility Permitting: Permitted power plants, pipelines, and other major energy facilities (authority transferred to the Public Utilities Commission effective July 1, 2005). (Program web site)

Projects and studies

The projects below represent the work of the EQB and its programs.  Not all projects are assigned to programs.  The database holds information on EQB projects starting in 2005

Ongoing

Completed

  • Charting a course for the future: Report of the state water program reorganization project. (Project record)
  • Mandatory review and exemption categories for recreational trails: The Environmental Quality Board must adopt mandatory EAW, EIS and exemption categories for recreational trails. (Project record)
  • Study of environmental review: Evaluation of the Environmental Review Program to ensure it meets its goals in a way that balances administrative burden and public benefit. (Project record)
  • Examples and Illustrations for EQB Guidance Documents and Educational Materials: Examples of environmental review documents, process diagrams, and related materials. (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)
  • Airport expansion options: In March 1996, the Metropolitan Airports Commission recommended expanding the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Another option, to take no action and not expand the airport, was also considered. The Metropolitan Airports Commission completed in May 1997 an environmental impact statement for both options. (Project record)
  • Water management unification initiative: Attempt to develop a 10 year framework for water management. (Project record)
  • Generic Environmental Impact Statement for animal agriculture: Study of effect of feedlots. (Project record)
  • Urban development generic environmental impact statement: The 1999 Minnesota Legislature directed the Environmental Quality Board to examine the long-term effects of urban development — past, present, and future — on the economy, environment and way of life of the residents of the state. (Project record)
  • Amending the Environmental Review program rules – phase 1: Amendments to Environmental Review Rules effective October 30, 2006. The “Phase 1” amendments authorized for rulemaking on December 15, 2005 and adopted with modifications on June 15, 2006 by the EQB, were published in the State Register on October 23 and become effective on October 30, 2006. (Project record)
  • Clean Water Cabinet: The Environmental Quality Board worked with and through Clean Water Cabinet to accomplish its water mission. (Project record)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Water availability project: Enviromental Quality Board sets course for water sustainability. (Project record)
  • Groundwater technical workgroup: DNR led a team of expert hydrologists to evaluate tools for sustainability. (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)
  • 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
  • Energy and Report Card Metrics Review: 10/17/2012: Energy and Report Card Metrics Review: 10/17/2012, October 17, 2012. (604.44K, .pdf) | Report details
  • Report of the Citizens’ Subcommittee on the Future of the Environmental Quality Board: The EQB Citizen's Subcommittee put forth recommendations for consideration regarding the future of the Environmental Quality Board, December 21, 2010. (424.92K, .pdf) | Report details
  • 2010 Minnesota Water Plan: A ten year framework for managing Minnesota's water, November 29, 2010. (15.5M, PDF) | Report details

All documents 

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

Technical problems? Contact: andrew.koebrick@state.mn.us