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4 <br />a <br />0 A Citizen's Guide: Commenting on Environmental Review Projects <br />• Be clear, concise and organized- Decide what information needs to be said before you begin. Developing an <br />outline helps put comments into a logical order. <br />• Be specific- Saying that you are against a project will not have as much of an effect as saying why you are <br />against it. Try to give as much support as possible for each comment. Include as much factual information as <br />possible. Refer to the page number or question number in your comment letter when responding to specific <br />items addressed in the environmental review document. <br />• Identify Possible Solutions- Suggest possible solutions that the project proposer could implement to alleviate <br />concerns about the project. It is okay to ask for analysis of different project configurations. Suggestions on <br />reasonable alternatives and mitigation measures can improve a project. <br />• Include your return address - If submitting comments by e-mail make sure to include your home mailing <br />address as well. <br />Commenting at public meetings <br />On occasion the RGU may hold a public meeting on a project, which will provide an opportunity to gather information <br />and listen to comments. Public meetings are usually informal, so an exact record of public comments may not always be <br />documented. You should bring a couple pieces of paper to write down concerns and questions, and then give your <br />written comments to the RGU staff. Preparing written comments ahead of time or writing concerns on a comment card, <br />if provided, and submitting it to the RGU staff is recommended. Submitting your comments in writing provides <br />assurance that concerns and question are accurately recorded. <br />Submitting comments <br />Comments for the project must go to the RGU not the EQB, by letter or e-mail. To ensure that comments are properly <br />received and addressed, always send letters to the contact listed in the notice of the EQB Monitor. Make sure to submit <br />the original letter to the main RGU contact, if others would like to see the letter make photocopies for them. RGUs do <br />not appreciate e-mail "spamming" The RGU is required to evaluate the merit of the issues being considered and 100 <br />copies of the same e-mail will not contribute any additional information. <br />RGU responses to comments <br />According to environmental review rules, RGUs are required to provide a written response to all timely and substantive <br />comments and distribute their responses to agencies on the EQB's distribution list. RGUs are also required to send a <br />copy of their response to anyone who submitted comments during the public comment period and to anyone who <br />requests, in writing, a copy of the RGU response. While RGUs usually do not respond to each commenter with an <br />individual letter, they usually compile all of the timely and substantive comments received and the RGUs' responses to <br />these comments into a single document. The RGU will then use public comments to determine if the proposer needs to <br />make changes to the project or if the RGU needs to collect additional information about the likelihood for significant <br />environmental effects. <br />About the EQB <br />The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) draws together the Governor's Office, the heads of nine state agencies <br />and five citizens in order to develop policy and review proposed projects that could significantly influence <br />Minnesota's environment. The Board staff is housed in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency building. <br />•. • <br />4 <br />