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'. . . City Council Minutes March 13,2006 Page 3 Councilmember Dietz questioned if Ms. Walters has had any additional meetings with the residents of the Ridges of Rice Lake. Ms. Walters explained that information regarding meetings has been distributed to the residents and she has been in contact with the Ridges of Rice Lake housing association president Dave Steiner to set up meetings but a meeting has yet to be scheduled. Ms. Haug noted that staff has been waiting until the EIS is complete prior to scheduling public meetings with the neighbors of the landfill. Councilmember Dietz questioned if the EIS has been completed. Ms. Haug explained that it has been completed and the MPCA Board will score the EIS with either a positive declaration which means that further studies need to be conducted, or with a negative declaration that means that the expansion can move on to local city and county approvals. 5.4. 2005 NPDES Permit Update Environmental Administrator Rebecca Haug explained that the city applied for a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System General Storm Water Permit (NPDES) in 2003 and as part of that permit, the city was required to develop and implement Best Management Practices and achieve measurable goals to satisfy six minimum control measures. Ms. Haug stated that the six goals are: Public Education and Outreach, Public Participation Involvement, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Construction Site Runoff Control, and Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping. Ms. Haug stated that in 2005 the City of Elk River was able to meet goals in each of the six measures and she provided some examples. She indicated that staff will continue to improve the city's storm water program in 2006 by implementing additional measures. Councilmember Dietz questioned who performs the storm drain inspections. Ms. Haug stated that the Street Department conducts these and they also make repairs to the storm drains when necessary. 5.5. Update on Northern Lights Expansion Project-Natural Gas Pipeline Project Environmental Administrator Rebecca Haug stated that Northern Lights is proposing to expand its natural gas transmission system to provide additional natural gas in their market area. Ms. Haug stated that Northern will be replacing approximately 3.3 miles of 3-inch diameter pipeline loop 'with 10-inch diameter pipeline in Sherburne and Wright Counties. Ms. Haug reviewed some of the environmental issues that have been identified with this project. She stated that the pipeline will not affect any areas identified in the city's Natural Resource Inventory but the pipeline will be impacting one known historical resource in the city and the applicant will be working with the State Historical Preservation Office on this issue. Ms. Haug indicated that several wetlands will also be impacted so the applicant will be required to go through the Wetland Conservation Act process. She noted that the comment period ends March 24 and staff would like Council approval to send comments addressing the environmental issues as described. Councilmember Motin questioned if there was any possibility that Northern could shift the line to make it easier for development purposes for the city because a large portion of the line runs through the Northstar and Gateway Business Parks. Ms. Haug indicated that she will address that in the comment letter. City Administrator Lori Johnson noted that staff received information today that an information meeting will be held March 14 at 7 p.m. at Riverwood Conference Center and this is a chance for the public to attend and comment on the project.