Laserfiche WebLink
Item -by -item guidance Chapter <br />■ d. These items identify past or future stages of the project and <br />describe how the present EAW relates to prior or future review. If <br />the answer to either part of d is °yes,' it is likely that the project <br />is related to other developments as a "phased action' or a 'con- <br />nected action' as defined by the EQB rules at part 4410.0200, <br />subpart 60 and 9b, respectively. The rules require that all parts of <br />these actions be reviewed as a single project. The RGU should <br />refer to the EQB rules (parts 4410.1000, subpart 4 and <br />4410.2000, subpart 4) and Chapter 2 of the Guide to Minnesota <br />Environmental Review Rules to ensure that the complete project <br />has been reviewed in the EAW. If the project is a residential <br />project, relevant requirements are at part 4410.4300, subpart 19 <br />and part 4410.4400, subpart 14. Also note that the certification <br />at the end of the form asks the RGU to verify that it has complied <br />with the requirements for reviewing the complete project. <br />7. Project magnitude data <br />This item asks for certain data that help quantify the magnitude <br />of the project. Depending on the type of project, some of the data <br />requested may not be applicable, in which case simply leave the <br />item blank. <br />• Total project area or length. For linear projects such as <br />roads, pipelines, sewers or electric transmission lines, the length <br />should be given; for other projects the area should be given. If the <br />total acres involved in a linear project are known, give both area <br />and length. <br />• Residential units. Single family, duplex and triplex units are <br />considered unattached while four or more units to a building are <br />attached. Each individual dwelling unit counts as one attached <br />unit; therefore, a 24 -unit apartment building has 24 attached <br />units. <br />• Commercial, industrial and institutional building ar- <br />eas. The form asks for a total of the gross floor space for any <br />project of a commercial, industrial or institutional nature such as <br />a school, prison or hospital. Count all floors of all enclosed struc- <br />tures on the site except for any space used for parking. The form <br />also asks for a breakdown of the total among nine subclasses of <br />commercial, industrial and institutional space. This should be self - <br />explanatory except for 'agricultural,' which is intended primarily <br />for the building areas of feedlot projects. If you are uncertain <br />about where something fits, list it under "other commercial" and <br />describe what it is. <br />• Building heights. List at least the maximum height of the <br />buildings; provide more information where appropriate, such as <br />an office complex with two or more towers of varying sizes, or an <br />office tower with a communications tower mounted on top. A <br />comparison to the heights of other nearby buildings is required if <br />any buildings will exceed two stories. <br />8. Permits and approvals required <br />List the permits, approvals, reviews and financing required or <br />sought from all government agencies prior to the beginning of the <br />project. Include any necessary regional reviews and approvals <br />from agencies such as the Metropolitan Council. Include approv- <br />als already obtained and any modifications of any existing <br />permits. A comprehensive listing of state and local permits can be <br />obtained from the Minnesota Small Business Assistance Office <br />listed in the appendix. The local unit's planning and zoning office <br />can also help identify necessary permits. Federal permits most <br />likely to be required would be from the Army Corps of Engineers <br />or the Fish and Wildlife Service; listed in the Appendix. <br />Any public funding or support must now be listed, including Tax <br />Increment Financing, public infrastructure constructed to assist <br />the project, bond guarantees and other forms of public assistance <br />or subsidies. <br />If a potential environmental impact will or can be addressed by <br />conditions of any required permits or approvals, this should be <br />discussed in the EAW. See also item 31, which provides an oppor- <br />tunity to explain how potential impacts can be mitigated through <br />permit and approval conditions. <br />When an EAW is required or ordered, no final decision to grant <br />any govemmental permit or approval (including financial assis- <br />tance) can be made until either a decision has been made that no <br />EIS is needed or until an EIS has been completed. See part <br />4410.3100 or Chapter 2 of the Guide to Minnesota Environmental <br />Review Rules. <br />In some cases there may be permits previously issued for activities <br />on or near the project site that are relevant to the review of the <br />proposed project. This is most likely where the proposed project is <br />an expansion of an existing project, but could occur under other <br />conditions as well, for example, if a past dredging project permit- <br />ted by the Corps of Engineers or the DNR placed soil on the <br />proposed project site. These permits should be identified, includ- <br />ing the permit number and issuing agency. This information can <br />either be presented under this item or preferably under the items <br />most relevant to the nature of the permit. <br />9. Land use <br />The point of this question is two -fold: (1) to identify any past land <br />uses on the site which might contribute to present environmental <br />concerns such as soil contamination from past industrial use; and <br />(2) to identify any potential conflicts between the project and <br />existing surrounding land uses with environmental aspects that <br />may require mitigation. A typical example would be a gravel <br />operation proposed next to a residential area: dust and noise <br />could cause significant conflicts with the residential land use. The <br />form asks whether potential land use conflicts involve environ- <br />mental matters because not all land use conflicts do. For example, <br />heavy truck traffic from a gravel mine near a residential area may <br />Environmental Quality Board 7 <br />