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. "/ <br /> yof MEMORANDUM <br /> ElkTO: Planning Commission <br /> River FROM: Stephen Rohlf, Building and <br /> 13065 Orono Parkway Environmental Administrator <br /> Elk River,MN 55330 <br /> DATE: August 24, 2004 4 <br /> SUBJECT: Environmental Assessment Worksheet <br /> for J & B Mining <br /> Included in your packet is a copy of the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) <br /> for the J & B Mining request. The purpose of the EAW is to describe the project and <br /> gather information to identify any potential environmental effects. The City Council for <br /> the City of Elk River is the Responsible Governmental Unit(RGU) charged with <br /> determining from the information gathered through the EAW process, whether or not this <br /> project has significant potential to cause irreversible environmental effects. If the <br /> Council feels there is a significant potential to cause irreversible environmental effects, <br /> they shall order an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be prepared for the project. <br /> The Planning Commission does not need to act on this issue. Staff has provided the <br /> EAW to the Planning Commission so that they have the benefit of all the information <br /> gathered regarding the request by J & B Mining. Pertinent information gather by the <br /> EAW includes such items as comments receive by other governmental entities and staff s <br /> responses to those comments. <br /> RESPONSE TO COMMENTS <br /> Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) —letter from James Sullivan, dated <br /> August 17, 2004. <br /> Comment—Project potentially needs a permit from the Minnesota Department of Natural <br /> Resources (DNR) for mining peat. <br /> Response—City staff contacted Julie Jordan, Mineland Reclamation Specialist for the <br /> DNR, regarding this issue. Ms. Jordan indicated that a separate permit from the DNR is <br /> not required for peat mining projects of less than 40 acres. The total area proposed to be <br /> mined by J & B Mining is 39.42 acres, of which a good portion is gravel mining. <br /> Therefore, a permit from the DNR is not required for the mining of peat. However, the <br /> peat mining portion of this request is subject to regulation under the Wetland <br /> Conservation Act and requires a conditional use permit through the City of Elk River. <br /> Phone: 763.635.1000 <br /> Fax:763.635.1090 <br /> www.ci.elk-river.mn.us <br />