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<br />Division of Ecological and Water Resources Transmitted by Email <br />Region 3 Headquarters <br />1200 Warner Road <br />Saint Paul, MN 55106 <br />March 3, 2022 <br />Kristina Handt, City Administrator <br />City of Lake Elmo <br />3880 Laverne Ave N, Suite 100 <br />Lake Elmo, MN 55042 <br /> <br />Dear Kristina Handt, <br />Thank you for the opportunity to review the Cyphers Logistic Park Draft Alternative Urban Areawide <br />Review (AUAR) located within the City of Lake Elmo in Washington County. The DNR respectfully <br />submits the following comments for your consideration: <br />1. Page 16, Lake Elmo 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Please note that the reconstruction of the <br />sanitary sewer lift station will need a separate DNR Water Appropriation Permit if the <br />dewatering for the reconstruction will exceed 10,000 gallons per day, or one million gallons per <br />year. The DNR Permit Application be submitted electronically u sing the Minnesota Permitting <br />and Reporting System (MPARS) website at: <br />https://webapps11.dnr.state.mn.us/mpars/public/authentication/login <br />2. Page 17, Water Supply Plan. We appreciate that the development of this area has been <br />reflected in Part 1 of the City of Lake Elmo Water Supply Plan. <br />3. Page 32, Wastewater. If Scenario 4 is ultimately selected and the use of Subsurface Sewage <br />Treatment Systems (SSTS) becomes necessary, please be aware that groundwater mounding <br />can occur beneath septic system drainfields, and poses a risk similar to infiltration basins within <br />areas prone to surface karst feature development. <br />4. Page 33, Stormwater. The DNR recommends that stormwater features be used to irrigate <br />landscaping in the AUAR area as a means to red uce groundwater use, especially in an area with <br />known groundwater contamination. For examples, please refer to the Cities of Hugo, Medina, <br />and Minnetrista, all of which successfully reuse stormwater for irrigation purposes. Please note <br />that the use of stormwater from constructed stormwater features does not require a DNR <br />Water Appropriation Permit. <br />5. Page 33, Stormwater. We recommend that the proposed developments use native seed mixes <br />and plants in stormwater features and landscaping in order to provide pollinator habitat. This is <br />especially important since the federally endangered Rusty-patched Bumble Bee has been <br />documented within the vicinity of the project area. The Board of Soil and Water Resources’ <br />website contains many great resources for choosing seed mixes and establishing native plants.