An FAQ on EQB (or, how environmental review in Minnesota works)
To supplement our stories about data center issues, Catherine Neuschler, who is executive director of the Environmental Quality Board, shared this information.
The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) administers the state’s environmental review program, and provides support to project proposers, governments, and the public in understanding environmental review.
We’ve been getting many questions from community members about possible data center projects. We hope this FAQ helps you better understand the environmental review process, how it is being used for data centers, and your role.
What is environmental review?
Environmental review (ER) is an information-gathering process to assess the potential environmental effects of a proposed project. It is required for any project that has the potential for significant environmental effects, including some specific projects based on their type and impacts. ER is not an approval process. It is meant to take place early in a project’s development, and the information gathered informs project approvals (i.e. permits). ER helps responsible governmental units (RGUs) make informed decisions while giving the public an opportunity to provide input to decision makers.
What is an EAW and AUAR?
RGUs considering data center projects have used the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) processes to do environmental review. Both processes include a 30-day public comment period.
The EAW is the most common form of environmental review used in Minnesota. It is a 13-page worksheet with 22 standardized questions that assess a project’s potential environmental effects. The RGU has the authority and responsibility to identify and analyze the information in the EAW.
The AUAR is an alternative to project-specific review that features scenarios, or hypothetical but reasonable descriptions of possible future development. The AUAR is only applicable for residential, commercial, warehousing, and light industrial development and associated infrastructure. The process requires completion of a worksheet to assess environmental effects and development of a mitigation plan. Once the AUAR is adopted, future projects in the area may not need to undergo further environmental review, if the projects and their effects are consistent with the information in the AUAR.
How do you get informed?
Environmental review documents are noticed weekly in the Environmental Quality Board’s Monitor. Additionally, RGUs share ER documents on their website or in local newspapers. RGUs may hold public meetings about proposed development while local RGUs can host discussions and make decisions at public council or board meetings.
How can you participate?
You can participate in the environmental review process by attending meetings, commenting on the environmental impacts of projects, or petitioning for environmental review of a project.
RGUs are required to respond in writing to timely and substantive comments. The comments help the RGU determine if the project proposer needs to make changes to the project or if the RGU needs more information to make decisions about the project.
The most useful comments:
- List any inaccuracies in the review documents.
- Show potential environmental impacts that haven’t been identified by the proposer or the RGU.
- Show that certain environmental impacts have been identified but not adequately addressed.
- Suggest possible mitigation measures.
How can I petition for an EAW?
The petition process provides Minnesotans an opportunity to alert RGUs of projects that they believe have the potential for significant environmental effects – even if the project is not of a type or size where review is mandatory – and to request review.
Petitioners need to describe and provide evidence of a project’s potential environmental effects along with 100 signatures and mailing addresses of residents of the county where the project is proposed or adjoining counties.
The RGU then evaluates the petition and determines if the project requires an EAW.
Resources
Environmental Review project database
Environmental review technical assistance: 651-757-2873 or Env.Review@state.mn.us
For 2025 coverage, Minnesota Women’s Press earned a community leadership award, three photography awards, and four editorial awards, including for coverage of social issues and for our Spring 2025 “Know Your Rights” special section supported by Unidos MN. Our publisher was named Journalist of the Year by Violence Free Minnesota for gender-based violence coverage.
