Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 01/18/2017

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Item-by-item guidance Chapter Additional Resources: • MPCA Wetlands/401 Certification web page is located here: htip://www.pca.state.mn.us/sblzb03 Any modification to wetlands identified in Item l La. should be discussed,including direct effects such as draining,filling,excavating,dredging,or vegetation removal. Indirect effects such as alteration or changes in hydrologic regime also need to be discussed,including changes that would alter the type of vegetation or other characteristics of the wetland. Proposals to convert or use natural wetlands as stormwater management systems and effects of the stormwater on the function of the wetland should also be discussed. Applicable federal and state wetland protection regulations require impacts to wetlands to be avoided and/or minimized. For proposed wetland impacts that are genuinely considered"unavoidable," compensatory wetland mitigation,(replacement),is typically required. The response to this item should therefore identify the alternatives that were considered to impacting any wetlands. It should also explain the viability of locating the required compensatory mitigation for unavoidable wetland impacts within the same minor or major watershed. Also,if the proposed project will result in a net loss of wetlands within the same minor or major watershed,the EAW must explain the anticipated effects this will have to the host watershed(e.g.,lost function and quality of those wetlands). b) Other Surface Waters Physical or hydrologic alteration of any surface water or its shoreline should be discussed in this question unless the hydrologic alteration is due to a water appropriation that was discussed in response to Item l l.d,or a wetland impact that was described just above in l l.iv.a). Examples of proposed activities that should be described here include such things as: placement of rip rap,in- channel work,in-water work,docks,water access,dewatering,dredging,culvert placement, and hydrologic modification. Distinguish between temporary construction effects and permanent changes. Hydrologic modifications include all actions which alter the existing hydrologic regime,that is,rate of discharge into or out of a water body,frequency and extent of water level fluctuations,and interaction with groundwater. The description of the alteration should address the following: the construction process; volumes of dredged or fill material;the area to be affected;the timing and magnitudes of fluctuations in water surface elevations; spoils disposal sites; and any other relevant information such as geomorphology,limnology,ecology,timing of construction, and changes in surface water area. Identify the specific in-water BMPs that will be employed during the project to prevent or reduce turbidity/sedimentation from discharging uncontrollably downstream(e.g., dredging activities or the installation/replacement of culverts or bridges in streams or rivers). Work in public waters below the Ordinary High Water(OHW)level will require a Work in Public Waters permit. Information on permits required for alteration of,or construction in, aquatic areas may be obtained from DNR regional or area hydrologist offices. Environmental Quality Board EAW Guidelines—October 2013 29