HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.c. UMore EIS ROSEI v1OUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Work Session Meeting Date: April 9, 2008
AGENDA ITEM: UMore EIS AGENDA SECTION:
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Kim Lindquist, Community Development AGENDA NO.
Director C
ATTACHMENTS: None. APPROVED BY:
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Provide staff direction.
BACKGROUND
As the Council is aware the University of Minnesota has been working toward development of the Umore
property within the City of Rosemount. There are a variety of tasks they are undertaking in preparation of
site development. One such activity is assessing the viability of mining aggregate on the site.
DISCUSSION
The University has spent the last several months assessing the extent of aggregate deposits within the
Umore property. Preliminary information indicates there are deposits worth mining. Given the size of the
site and the amount of mining which could occur, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be
undertaken to allow this activity.
Typically the City is the responsible governmental unit for preparation of EISs and EAWs. The University
has requested that they be designated the RGU in this instance and have asked for a letter from the City
stating such. Staff has spoken with the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) and found that in some cases,
such as the new Gopher Stadium, the University has served as the RGU with approval by the local unit of
government. Because the mining EIS will address mining and post restoration of the affected land, staff is
comfortable allowing the University to act as the RGU. However, staff expects to be involved in the
preparation of the EIS and selection of the EIS consultants, consistent with the representations made by
University personnel. Support in this instance should not lead people to assume the University will be the
RGU for all environmental reviews necessary to allow property development. At this point, staff is very
interested in having the City as the RGU for the future AUAR that will occur as part of the planning
process.
CONCLUSION
Staff is comfortable allowing the University to serve as the RGU for the EIS necessary for the anticipated
aggregate mining that will occur on the property. With Council agreement a letter will be sent to the
University stating the City's support, although asking for extensive involvement in the process and
recognizing that this support does not address future environmental reviews that may need to be
conducted for property development.