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■ 8 Environmental Review: A Glossary <br /> T,t� iaO <br /> Environmental Impact Statement-Is a detailed analysis of the key environmental, social,and economic issues that are <br /> likely to result from the project. The initial steps of the EIS process,the scoping EAW and draft decision document, <br /> start with a questionnaire much like an EAW and identifies the concepts in an EIS. The EIS also examines if there are <br /> alternative project designs or locations that would result in fewer environmental impacts. It can take as long as one year <br /> for a project to complete the entire EIS process. <br /> Environmental Quality Board- Draws together a representative from the governor's office (the Chair),the heads of <br /> the nine state agencies that play a vital role in Minnesota's environment and development, and five appointed citizen <br /> members. The EQB develops policy,creates long-range plans, and provides oversight for the environmental review <br /> process.The governor is responsible for appointing the five citizen members to the board;two of the five must be <br /> conversant in water management issues in the state. <br /> Motion-Is considered the formal mode in which a member of a city,township,or county board or council proposes a <br /> measure for consideration and action. <br /> Ordinance-Is the local government equivalent of a law or statute. In other words,ordinances are the formal regulations <br /> created by a council/board to govern the community. Ordinances are generally enforceable by criminal prosecution or <br /> by civil actions, such as a court order or injunction. <br /> Phased actions-Are future actions by the same proposer that an RGU determines will have environmental effects on <br /> the same geographic area and are substantially certain to be undertaken sequentially over a limited period of time. In <br /> other words,if an RGU has a substantial reason to believe a project will expand in the near future,it should look at both <br /> the current project proposal and future expansions at the same time. This definition includes three components: same <br /> proposer,same area affected, and timing. Only one and not all of a group of owners need to be involved in both projects <br /> as long as that owner's stake is substantial. If several projects are considered phased actions,then the RGU should <br /> consider the size of all the phased projects when determining if the project has crossed over a mandatory threshold. <br /> Resolution-Is a formal expression of the opinion or will of a governing body. Resolutions are generally used by local <br /> government councils/boards to express a particular position,to make an appointment or designation, or to adopt a policy <br /> that is administrative and not legislative in nature. <br /> Subdivision regulations-Govern the division and development of land.They help establish procedures for dividing a <br /> land area into streets,blocks,buildable lots, and open spaces. Standards are set for lot and street design,drainage,park <br /> dedication,improvement requirements, and similar concerns. Subdivision regulations can be included as part of a <br /> zoning ordinance,or they can be adopted as a stand-alone ordinance. <br /> Responsible Government Unit-In the environmental review process, an RGU is the governmental organization that <br /> must oversee the preparation and analysis of environmental review documents.The RGU can be any state agency or any <br /> general or special purpose unit of government in the state The RGU is the governmental unit determined to have the <br /> greatest authority to approve or disapprove a project. <br /> Zoning ordinance-Typically translates the comprehensive plan into a legally enforceable ordinance. The zoning <br /> ordinance provides the local government with the legal authority to regulate the way land is used under its jurisdiction. <br /> At the very least, a good zoning ordinance should contain a definition of the types of zoning districts, a list of permitted <br />