Environmental Review
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 provided for the federal review of actions impacting the environment. To insure the appropriate review of impacts in Minnesota, the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act was passed in 1973. The purpose of the review is to provide information on the environmental impacts of a project before approvals or permits are issued.
An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) provides a brief overview of existing information on the environmental impacts of a project. It is a worksheet consisting of a standardized list of questions. At the conclusion of the review, either a decision is made of negative impact, in which case the project proceeds, or positive impact, which requires the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
An EIS contains greater detail regarding a broader range of anticipated impacts. It also considers alternative project designs and mitigation measures. EISs are prepared for projects that have the potential for significant environmental impacts. When completed, the EIS provides governmental units with information to determine whether or not the project is environmentally acceptable.
Sierra Club has been very involved with both the environmental review process for specific projects, and the regulatory and policy controls that have been developed for state program implementation. We feel that the environmental review process needs to be made more consistent and rigorous to protect the environment that Minnesotans continually enjoy and value. To this end, a Special Report (pdf, 357k) has been published that describes and analyzes the effectiveness of the environmental review process in Minnesota and provides recommendations for its improvement. Legislation has also been developed to pursue positive change for this program.