The next meeting of the Environmental Quality Board will take place on Friday, November 18, 2011. The board will meet from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the MPCA lower level board room.

The board will continue its conversation on the future direction for the EQB.

Additionally, Mr. John Jaschke, Executive Director of the Board of Water and Soil Resources will present to the EQB on a draft update to BWSR's strategic plan.

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 (Minnesota Laws, Chapter 107, Section 87).  The amended language is as follows:

The EQB will be holding a special meeting on September 21st in the MPCA Board Room. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00.

The board will address environmental review action items, including final EQB approval of the environmental review program rules (at Minn. Rules, part 4410.4300, subpart 15) establishing a mandatory EAW category threshold for greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the board will reassign RGU responsibility from the EQB to the MPCA on the Fairmont Power Plant.

The EQB proposes to amend its rule to add a specific threshold number applying to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the mandatory EAW category for air pollutants at part 4410.4300, subpart 15. The level proposed is a combined total of 100,000 tons per year of GHGs, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents. The gases to which this threshold would apply are carbon dioxide; methane; nitrous oxide; hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs); perfluorocarbons (PFCs); and sulfur hexafluoride. Comments and hearing requests are due by February 23, 2011

A new report by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board charts a 10-year agenda for protecting and restoring Minnesota's water resources.

The report, 2010 Minnesota Water Plan, establishes strategies and principles for ensuring the availability and sustainability of clean water for current and future generations.