Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 01/18/2017

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Item-by-item guidance Chapter 6. Project description The project description is the most important item in the EAW. It must be completed thoroughly and accurately. It is best to assume your reader is not familiar with your industry or proposed facility. Omitting project elements may increase the costs and timeline for the proposed project. Changes made to the project after the EAW is completed but before all approvals have been granted may result in the need for a new EAW,per Minnesota Rules 44 10.1000 Subpart 5. a.Brief summary for publication in the EQB Monitor This should be a concise statement of the project's basic nature,characteristics and location.This summary will be printed verbatim in the EQB Monitor to serve as a public notice of the EAW. It should be approximately 50 words. In addition to including this brief summary here in the EAW,this summary should be submitted separately in an e-mail to the EQB Staff according to the EAW Publication Calendar posted on the EQB website.This facilitates accurate reproduction of the summary in the EQB Monitor. b. Complete description Clear,complete and detailed project descriptions are essential to understanding the potential for environmental effects. If any portion of the project description is vague or incomplete,reviewers may have difficulty understanding the project and may assume certain environmental considerations have been overlooked. In some cases,other EAW items may be more appropriate for detailed project components. If this is the case,describe those components generally here in EAW Item 6.b. and refer the reader to the EAW item that contains the more detailed information. The detailed description should be focused on aspects of the project that may directly or indirectly manipulate, alter or impact the physical or natural environment.This can include: construction methods, especially in regard to site preparation; operational features(ongoing operations),especially in regard to waste production and management; and in some cases such as mining and landfilling activities, rp oject closure actions. The description should distinguish between construction and operational activities. It should describe scheduling,timing, and locations of the activities as well as the time of year,frequency, and duration of the activities. It should also highlight any special concerns, such as proximity to a significant resource. Typical things to consider as part of detailed project description include: • Project components and structures • Permanent and temporary structures • Construction methods,timing(including when construction would begin),and equipment used • Size of the main components • Locations and relationships of project components • Associated infrastructure including new or expanded public utility services or public works necessary to serve the project such as sewers,storm sewers, streets,water mains,water towers, power lines,gas lines, If the EAW is in response to a petition,note what issues were raised. NOTE: Any infrastructure constructed to serve the project and not independent of project must be treated in the EAW as part of the project. For example, a road built to serve a specific project must be treated as Environmental Quality Board EAW Guidelines—October 2013 11