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Everton Avenue Neighborhood AUAR Update – Responses to Comments <br />October 7, 2022 <br />Page 2 <br />K:\020256-000\Admin\Docs\20256-000 MEMO - Comment Responses - DRAFT.docx <br />Comment 3: Blanding’s turtles, a protected state-listed threatened species, have been <br />documented within the project area. Stormwater features may be colonized by <br />Blanding’s turtles in the area, therefore we recommend incorporating measures to <br />avoid impacting this species into stormwater management. In years when the <br />stormwater features will be dredged to remove excess sediment, please draw down <br />water levels by September 15th in order to allow turtles to find overwintering habitat <br />elsewhere. <br />Response: Mitigation measure 16 was also updated to reflect the requirements for <br />avoidance of blandings turtles. <br />Comment 4: We recommend that projects incorporate native plants and seed mixes into <br />development landscaping and stormwater features to the greatest degree possible in <br />order to provide pollinator habitat. The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) <br />provides many excellent resources on their Lawns to Legumes website. <br />Response: The city will encourage developers to implement the use of native <br />plantings and seed mixes in vegetated areas of developments. Mitigation measure 31 <br />was updated to include this recommendation. <br />Washington County <br />Comment 1: If wells not in use are located during project development, these would need to be <br />sealed according to Minnesota Department of Health regulations to mitigate potential <br />groundwater contamination. <br />Response: Mitigation measure 25 includes the requirement for well abandonment. <br />This has been done for the properties that had wells when the developments <br />occurred and will continue for any future developments. <br />Comment 2: There are records for individual Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS) <br />within the areas remaining to be developed. If the use of any existing septic systems, <br />tanks, or components is to be discontinued they will need to be properly abandoned. <br />If any unused SSTS or septic tanks are discovered during development, they will <br />need to be properly abandoned. A County permit for septic system abandonment is <br />required and an abandonment form must be submitted to the Washington County <br />Department of Public Health and Environment (Department). If development occurs <br />where wastewater will be generated and in area where municipal sewer services are <br />not available a septic system permit must be applied for though the Department. <br />Response: Mitigation measure 40 has been updated to reflect the need for <br />abandonment and the County permit. <br />Comment 3: If any solid and hazardous waste, including waste resulting from historic dumping, is <br />discovered during development it must be properly managed at an appropriately <br />permitted waste disposal facility. <br />Response: Mitigation measure 70 has been added to the AUAR update to indicate <br />requirement to manage solid or hazardous waste appropriately. <br />Comment 4: It is stated in #63 of Section ‘V. Mitigation Summary and Update’, that “The County <br />shall be responsible for any trail development associated with County road <br />reconstruction.” This scenario will be applied per Washington County’s Cost <br />Participation Policy – Transportation Policy #8001 – and therefore it is requested that <br />“per Washington County’s Cost Participation Policy” be added at the end of the above <br />referenced sentence.