12/20/2006 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • AGENDA ITEM 6 A STAFF ORIGINATOR: Jeff Smyser ENV. BOARD MTG DATE: December 20, 2006 TOPIC: Record of Decision Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) Nature's Refuge BACKGROUND An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) has been prepared for the Nature's Refuge conservation development project as prescribed by state environmental review requirements. The EAW was filed with the Minnesota Environmental Quality board (MEQB) and circulated for review and comments to the required EAW distribution list. A Notice of Availability was published in the EQB Monitor on October 23, 2006. The thirty -day comment period closed on November 22, 2006. We received a number of written comments from agencies and citizens. The City must respond to every substantive comment. The City must decide, based on the EAW information, if an Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared for the project. In doing so, we must prepare a record of decision that includes information supporting the decision. The attached draft Record of Decision document includes findings, comments and responses, and conclusions. The comments we received and our responses are summarized in the section "EAW Comment and Responses ". The actual commenting letters and e -mails are included as well. You will see some blank spaces for responses to specific comments. Unfortunately, the ecologist on the project has been ill and could not provide all responses before this document was printed for distribution to the Environmental Board. We will forward additional responses as we get them or bring them to the Board meeting. I apologize for the incomplete document, but sometimes this happens. OPTIONS 1. Review draft Record of Decision and provide comment to staff 2. Recommend adoption of Record of Decision. 3. Return to staff with direction RECOMMENDATION •Options 1 and 2