02-10-1997 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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LI REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: February 3,1997 Item No.: " Department Approval:, A Administrator Approval: Name: Michael P.Gaffron Title: Asst. Planning & Zoning Administrator Agenda Section: Zoning Item Description: Spring Hill Golf Club: Approve Wording of Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for Distribution List of Exhibits A - "An Introductory Overview of the Program" -Excerpt from Guide to the Rules of the Minnesota Environmental Review Program B - "The EAW Process" - Excerpt from "RAW Guidelines - Guidance and Information.for the Preparation of Environmental Assessment Worksheets" C - EAW Mandatory Category excerpt - Agriculture and Forestry D - Spring Hill Golf Club Project Schedule E - Resolution #3831 Designating Orono as RGU F - Draft EAW and Appendices » Overview The Minnesota Environmental Review Program requires governmental agencies to go through a standardized, public process designed to disclose information about the environmental effects and ways to avoid or minimize them for certain types and magnitudes of projects. The two levels of review arc the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); and the less rigorous Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) which is intended to screen projects which "may have the potential for significant environmental effects" to detemiine if they actually do; if the answ er turns out to be •yes', then an EIS is required. If the answer is 'no', then the City's and other agencies' normal review and permitting processes may continue. The EAW process uses a standardized list of questions in a worksheet format to disclose the necessar}' information to screen the project for significant environmental effects. The Spring Hill Golf Club project falls under a mandator)' EAW category because it involves the "permanent conversion of 80 or more acres of agricultural, forest, or naturally vegetated land to a more intensive, developed land use".