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Item-by-item guidance Chapter <br /> Wetlands that will potentially be affected need to be identified. A wetland delineation may be needed for <br /> the EAW if there is a large area of wetlands affected. The RGU must make the determination of whether <br /> or not the wetland effect is large enough to warrant a wetland delineation. If a wetland delineation has <br /> been completed or if wetland information is available,the wetlands must be classified according to U.S. <br /> Fish and Wildlife Service, Circular 39, Wetlands of the United States, located here: <br /> hLtp://www.fws.2o3/policy/660fw2.html. <br /> ii. Groundwater. This item is meant for a full description of groundwater.Because groundwater is <br /> not easily observed,the response to this question needs to use information such as nearby well logs, <br /> regional aquifer studies,or other information sources that may or may not be readily available. The effort <br /> spent collecting and providing this information should be commensurate with the potential effects from <br /> the project. If there have been any aquifer tests or pumping tests,those should be described here. <br /> To locate existing wells,the Minnesota Department of Health(MDH)recommends conducting a field <br /> well inventory on properties affected by the project. Special attention should be paid to areas where <br /> construction will take place and where any farmsteads,homes or industrial wells may have been located in <br /> the past, as well as along boundaries where wells may exist on adjacent properties. Locating existing wells <br /> is important to maintain distances between wells and sources of groundwater contamination. <br /> The Unique Well Numbers can be obtained from the County Well Index maintained by the MDH and the <br /> Minnesota Geological Survey,which includes all wells constructed since 1975 and some wells <br /> constructed earlier. If no wells are believed to exist on the site,your response must indicate how this was <br /> determined; for example,by a field survey. <br /> Existing wells cannot be buried during construction without first being properly sealed. <br /> Additional Resources: <br /> • Minnesota Department of Health County Well Index: <br /> http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/cwi/index.html <br /> All wells that will no longer be used must either be sealed by a licensed well contractor according to <br /> Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4725,or have a maintenance permit from MDH,or,in the case that there is a <br /> delegation agreement for local well regulation, from the local board of health. Currently,this includes <br /> Dakota,Blue Earth, Goodhue,LeSueur,Olmsted,Wabasha,Waseca,and Winona counties and the cities <br /> of Minneapolis and Bloomington. <br /> Information on shallow groundwater can be particularly useful for some projects.(See above for guidance <br /> regarding Item 10.a. Geology for potential groundwater information sources.)In some cases,wetlands <br /> hydrology is supported by shallow groundwater. If a project is going to intercept,pump,or change <br /> shallow groundwater flow(including infiltration) and there are wetlands in the area,it will be important to <br /> understand and describe the shallow groundwater. Depending on the nature of the project and the location <br /> and type of wetlands, additional investigation and professional hydrogeological services may be needed. <br /> Environmental Quality Board EAW Guidelines—October 2013 24 <br />