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• COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 14, 2002 EAW be distributed for public comment. Resolution 02-142 approves the distribution for public comment. The resolution does not in any way grant any approval of the church project itself. The Eagle Brook Church EAW is voluntary. The proposed project does not cross any mandatory EAW thresholds. A citizen group did submit a petition requesting the preparation of an EAW, which was forwarded to the City. However, the church decided to prepare the EAW by the time the City received the petition, so the City did not need to decide if an EAW was warranted. The church has not submitted any project applications to the City for review. Based on the preliminary plans described in the EAW, the site comprises 95 acres overall. The proposed new church would include 88,000 sf with the possible addition of another 7,500 sf. The potential total of 95,500 sf is analyzed by the EAW. The project would also include the necessary parking, road improvements, and other typical elements of site development. Rules written by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board dcscribe the requirements for the environmental review. These rules were written to implement MN Statute 116D, the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act. Environmental review starts with anenviro amental assessment worksheet (EAW). An EAW is defined as a brief document which is designed took set out the basic facts necessary to determine whether an environmental impact statement (EIS) is necessary. The EAW form was created by the Minnesota Environmental Qualify Bcard `(EQB). It is a list of questions that must be completed based on the project specifics. Briefly, the project proposer submits information for the EAW. The City then reviews the submitted information for accuracy and completeness. Then the EAW is distributed and made available for public review. A public comment period of 30 days follows. Approving the EAW for distribution means that Ate City is comfortable that the document is accurate and complete to the best of its knowl ; * Titre is no other commitment or hidden implication regarding approval of the project inrhakifig thhe cision to distribute the document. Approving the EAW for distribution does not mean tt the City is approving the project. On the contrary, once the EAW process has been initiat projectcannot be started and no governmental entity can make a final decision on the project until the environmental review process is completed. After the public comment period, the City decides if it has enough information to determine if the project will cause significant environmental effects. If it will not cause such effects, the City makes a "negative declaration" meaning that an EIS is not necessary. If the review process reveals, in the judgement of the City, that the project will cause significant environmental effects, the City makes a "positive declaration" meaning an EIS is necessary. An EIS is a very large, very expensive study. It is not unusual for an EIS cost a million dollars and typically takes several years to complete. A step-by-step summary of the process follows. 1. Project proposer submits data. ••Normally, the developer completes the EAW form and the City reviews and amends it. 11