Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 08/21/2023

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ESO Preparing EAWS:A Procedural Guide for Local RGUs located. Helpful Tip A press release is a general announcement of a newsworthy In recent years many RGUs are choosing to event,it is not the same thing as a legal or government prepare and distribute environmental review announcement that you are required to pay for publication. documents on CDROM,as this format can While the newspaper is not required to and may not wish to sometimes save on copying and mailing costs. It publish the information,by in offering the press release the is EQB staff policy that publishing documents RGU has fulfilled its required responsibilities. on CDROM satisfies environmental review rule requirements,but RGUs must be able to provide a paper copy of the document upon request. Step 14—Mail copies of the EAW to all required parties prior to the EQB Monitor publication date Step 12—Submit protect information to EQB Several days prior to the project's notice in the EQB staff for publication in the EQB Monitor Monitor,RGU staff will need to mail the EAW to all required Environmental review rules require RGUs to submit an organizations and individuals from the EQB's distribution abstract(brief description)of the project and the RGU's list. It is necessary to mail the EAWs out beforehand so they contact information for a notice to be published in the EQB will arrive at their respective destinations by the actual EQB Monitor. Publishing the notice in the EQB Monitor officially Monitor publication date. starts the 30 day public comment period. Helpful Tip RGUs can use the information listed in Item 6a of the EAW While it does not happen often,the EAW for the abstract section of the EQB Monitor notice. RGUs distribution list is sometimes updated or revised. can also use this opportunity to communicate other important RGUs should always verify they have downloaded information,such as public meeting dates/times,where copies the most recent version of the EAW distribution of the EAW are available,etc. list from the EQB's website. Once an RGU has completed the required information,EQB staff recommend that the information be submitted via email to egb.monitor(a state.mn.us. If necessary,the EQB can also Step 15—Receive public comment letters receive the information by fax or US mail. The EQB's fax Once the project has been noticed in the EQB Monitor,the number and mailing address can be found on its website at: official 30-day public comment period begins(the 30-day www.eab.state.mn.us. comment period refers to actual calendar days,not business or working days). During this time,interested parties have When requesting information to be published in the Monitor, the opportunity to submit letters to the address provided in the RGU staff should consider the list of publication dates and EQB Monitor. information submittal deadlines located on the EQB website at www.egb.state.mn.us/monitor. The EQB Monitor is published Step 16—Prepare a response to public every other Monday and the information submittal deadline is at least 1 week prior to this date. comments RGUs are required to respond to comments that are both substantive and timely. For instance,if a commenter states, Step 13—Prepare and send out a press release "I don't think the project fits the neighborhood,"this has to a newspaper of general circulation little to do with the EAW or the environmental impacts of the project. Substantive comments are comments that"address In addition to putting a notice in the EQB Monitor,the RGU the accuracy and completeness of the materials contained is required to offer a press release regarding the availability in the EAW,potential impacts that may warrant further of the EAW for public review and comment to a"newspaper investigation before the project is commenced,and the need of general circulation"in the area in which the project will be 9