Environmental Reviews Overview

Minnesota Environmental Review Overview

The Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) established the Minnesota Environmental Review program pursuant to Minnesota Statute 116D. Minnesota Rules 4410 defines the environmental review rules and procedures. The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) oversees the State environmental review process. Mandatory state environmental review is required when a project exceeds the thresholds per Minnesota Rules 4410.4300 and 4410.4400.

The environmental review process does not approve or deny a specific project but instead serves as a source of information to guide future approvals and permitting decisions.

In Minnesota, there are three types of environmental review:

• Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW): An EAW evaluates a project’s potential for significant environmental effects through the completion of the EAW form to determine if an EIS is necessary. A mandatory EAW is required if the thresholds in Minnesota Rules 4410.4300 are exceeded.
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): An EIS is completed for projects with the potential to result in significant environmental effects. An EIS consists of a detailed analysis of a project’s environmental, social, and economic impacts. The EIS includes a scoping process and an evaluation of reasonable build alternatives and the no build alternative. A mandatory EIS is required if the thresholds in Minnesota Rules 4410.4400 are exceeded.
• Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR): An AUAR is an environmental review process that allows local governments to study the environmental impacts of more than one development scenario. An AUAR includes a mitigation plan intended to address the cumulative potential impacts resulting from development of the AUAR area and is updated every five years until the development is complete.