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Gemstone Products Company
Elk River EAW
10-26-09
Schulze Property
~ ~ .~ ~ - _
4410.4300 Subpart 12 (B) Development of a facility for the extraction or mining of
sand, gravel, stone, or other nonmetallic minerals, other than peat, which will excavate
40 or more acres of land to a mean depth often feet or more during its existence, local
governmental unit.
5. Project Location
County: Sherburne
City /Township: Elk River / Livonia
Parcel 2:
The Southeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter (SE'/4 of NE 1/4), lying West of Baldwin
Street, in Township Thirty-three (33) North, of Range Twenty-six (26) West, Sherburne
County, Minnesota;
Parcel 7:
Southwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter (SW t/4 of NE '/4) lying Northwesterly of the
centerline of Baldwin Street and that part of the Southeast Quarter of the Northwest
Quarter, lying Easterly of the Easterly line of Trunk Highway 169 (formerly known as
Minnesota State Highway 18 or Elk River and Princeton Wagon Road or Princeton
Road), all in Section 3, Township 33, Range 26, Sherburne County, Minnesota.
1. Description
a. Provide a project summary of 50 words or less to be published in the
EQB Monitor.
Gemstone Products Company proposes to operate a sand and gravel mine
along with an aggregate crushing and washing plant to provide
construction aggregates for the north metro market. The facility will be
located in the city of Elk River on the east side of TH 169, at 225tH
Avenue.
b. Give a complete description of the proposed project and related new
construction. Attach additional sheets as necessary. Emphasize
construction, operation methods and features that will cause physical
manipulation of the environment or will produce wastes. Include
modifications to existing equipment or industrial processes and
significant demolition, removal or remodeling of existing structures.
Indicate the timing and duration of construction activities.
Gemstone is proposing to open a new aggregate mine. Mining operations
and practices on the property are proposed to be similar to current
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Final uses of this property will depend on end-use plans that are yet to be
determined. Currently, the property within the City of Elk River is
designated as Commercial Reserve Transition. In all likelihood, much of
this property will be suitable to be developed as both residential and light
commercial as mining ceases.
e. Is this project a subsequent stage of an earlier project? _Yes X No
If yes, briefly describe the past development, timeline and any past
environmental review.
7. Project Magnitude Data
Total project acreage: 62.9 acres
Number of residential units: unattached 0 attached 0 maximum units per
building 0
Commercial, industrial or institutional building area (gross floor space): 12,000 sQ.
ft.
Indicate areas of specific uses (in square feet):
Office 1,000 Manufacturing 0
Retail 0 Other industrial 0
Warehouse 0 Institutional 0
Light industrial 0 Agricultural 0
Other commercial (specify) 0
Building height If over 2 stories, compare to heights of nearby buildings: n/a
8. Permits and approvals required
List all known local, state and federal permits, approvals and financial assistance for the
project. Include modifications of any existing permits, governmental review of plans and
all direct and indirect forms of public financial assistance including bond guarantees, Tax
Increment Financing and infrastructure. All of these final decisions are prohibited until
all appropriate environmental review has been completed. See Minnesota Rules, Chapter
4410.3100.
Table 8.1 Permits and
Annrovals Required
Unit of Government T e of A lication Status
MPCA NPDES Storm Water Permit To Be Obtained
MPCA Air Permit To Be Obtained
MN DNR Water A ro riation To Be Obtained
Cit of Elk River Minin Permit To Be Obtained
Cit of Elk River Re-zone Property as Mining
District
To Be A lied For
Cit of Elk River Conditional Use Permit To Be A lied For
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b. Are any state-listed (endangered, threatened or special concern) species, rare
plant communities or other sensitive ecological resources on or near the site? X Yes
_No If yes, describe the resource and how it would be affected by the project.
Describe any measures that will be taken to minimize or avoid adverse impacts.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was consulted if any rare
species or other significant natural features are known to occur within the
approximate one-mile radius of the proposed project. There is record of
Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), astate-listed threatened species, in the
area, though they have not been observed on the property. The Blanding Turtle is
astate threatened species and is declining in most of their range. There will likely
be no impacts of the species on this property due to the fact that there are no
wetlands in or near the mining area.
Provide the license agreement number LA-n/a and/or Division of Ecological
Resources contact number (ERDB: 20090142) from which the data were obtained
and attach the response letter from the DNR Division of Ecological Resources.
12. Physical impacts on water resources
Will the project involve the physical or hydrologic alteration -dredging, filling,
stream diversion, outfall structure, diking, and impoundment - of any surface
waters such as a lake, pond, wetland, stream or drainage ditch? _Yes X No
If yes, identify water resource affected and give the DNR Public Waters Inventory
number(s) if the water resources affected are on the PWI: Describe alternatives
considered and proposed mitigation measures to minimize impacts.
13. Water Use
Will the project involve installation or abandonment of any water wells, connection
to or changes in any public water supply or appropriation of any ground or surface
water (including dewatering)? _Yes _X No
If yes, as applicable, give location and purpose of any new wells; public supply
affected, changes to be made, and water quantities to be used; the source, duration,
quantity and purpose of any appropriations; and unique well numbers and DNR
appropriation permit numbers, if known. Identify any existing and new wells on the
site map. If there are no wells known on site, explain methodology used to
determine.
14. Water-related land use management district
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b. Identify routes and receiving water bodies for runoff from the site; include major
downstream water bodies as well as the immediate receiving waters. Estimate
impact runoff on the quality of receiving waters.
The settling ponds will be located at the lowest lying area of the property, thus
water will be directed towards this area.
18. Water quality: wastewaters
a. Describe sources, composition and quantities of all sanitary, municipal and
industrial wastewater produced or treated at the site.
• On-site sanitation facilities will include portable toilets.
• Water from the wash plant used to rinse sand and gravel will carry clays,
sediments, and other fine organic particles. This water will be piped into
the series of settling ponds where the "fines" are allowed to settle out.
The clean water is then pumped into the wash plant for reuse.
Periodically, the ponds will need to be cleaned of the soil build-up to
maintain their effectiveness. Wash plant water will not contain chemical
additives.
b. Describe waste treatment methods or pollution prevention efforts and give
estimates of composition after treatment. Identify receiving waters, including major
downstream water bodies (identifying any impaired waters), and estimate the
discharge impact on the quality of receiving waters. If the project involves on-site
sewage systems, discuss the suitability of site conditions for such systems.
Through the closed loop pond system, the wash plant water will be recycled for
re-use.
c. If wastes will be discharged into a publicly owned treatment facility, identify the
facility, describe any pretreatment provisions and discuss the facility's ability to
handle the volume and composition of wastes, identifying any improvements
necessary.
N/A
19. Geologic hazards and soil conditions
a. Approximate depth (in feet) to ground water: Groundwater exists at approximately
the 970 ft. contour.
Describe any of the following geologic site hazards to ground water and also identify
them on the site map: sinkholes, shallow limestone formations or karst conditions.
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21. Traffic
Parking spaces added:
Up to 12 spaces added for employee parking and potentially 6 spaces for
overnight parking for dump trucks
Existing spaces (if project involves expansion):
None
Estimated total average daily traffic generated:
During typical operating season (normally April through November), the
estimated total daily traffic is anticipated to be 100 truck loads per day (200 truck
trips).
Estimated maximum peak hour traffic generated and time of occurrence:
Peak traffic typically occurs in the morning with up to 15 loads per hour (30 truck
trips).
Indicate source of trip generation rates used in the estimates.
Most trucking will be destined for nearby Gemstone ready-mixed concrete plants.
22. Vehicle-related air emissions
Estimate the effect of the project's traffic generation on air quality, including
carbon monoxide levels. Discuss the effect of traffic improvements or other
mitigation measures on air quality impacts.
Vehicle-related air emissions are comprised of emissions from employee vehicles,
loaders, and excavation equipment. These emissions contain carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. The site is not expected to have an adverse
impact on air quality.
23. Stationary source air emissions
Describe the type, sources, quantities and compositions of any emissions from.
stationary sources of air emissions such as boilers, exhaust stacks or fugitive dust
sources. Include any hazardous air pollutants (consult EAW Guidelines for a listing)
and any greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) and
ozone-depleting chemicals (chloro-fluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons,
perfluorocarbons or sulfur hexafluoride). Also describe any proposed pollution
prevention techniques and proposed air pollution control devices. Describe the
impacts on air quality.
The crushing plant will create air emissions from both the generator required to
power the crushing plant and from the crushing activity itself. An air emissions
permit will be obtained for operation of the processing equipment. The wash
plant will also create emissions from the generator used to power the plant. The
process of washing the aggregates does not produce dust. The site will generate
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This property will present various visual impacts during the operation of the mine.
These visual impacts consist of changing land cover, excavation equipment,
aggregate processing equipment such as conveyors, crushing and washing
equipment, lighting, stockpiles of aggregates, truck traffic, emission plumes, and
dust. These impacts may be considerably mitigated by the construction of berms
and vegetative plantings.
27. Compatibility with plans and land use regulations
Is the project subject to an adopted local comprehensive plan, land use plan or
regulation, or other applicable land use, water, or resource management plan of a
local, regional, state or federal agency? X Yes _No.
If yes, describe the plan, discuss its compatibility with the project and explain how
any conflicts will be resolved. If no, explain.
The site is subject to Elk River City ordinances. The property is not currently in
the Elk River Mineral Excavation Zoning District; therefore, a zone change will
need to be applied for.
28. Impact on infrastructure and public services
Will new or expanded utilities, roads, other infrastructure or public services be
required to serve the project? _Yes X No.
If yes, describe the new or additional infrastructure or services needed. (Note: any
infrastructure that is a connected action with respect to the project must be assessed in the
EAW; see EAW Guidelines for details.)
29. Cumulative potential effects
Minnesota Rule part 4410.1700, subpart 7, item B requires that the RGU consider
the "cumulative potential effects of related or anticipated future projects" when
determining the need for an environmental impact statement.
Identify any past, present or reasonably foreseeable future projects that may
interact with the project described in this EAW in such a way as to cause
cumulative potential effects. (Such future projects would be those that are actually
planned or for which a basis of expectation has been laid.)
Describe the nature of the cumulative potential effects and summarize any other
available information relevant to determining whether there is potential for
significant environmental effects due to these cumulative effects (or discuss each
ca~mulative potential effect under appropriate item(s) elsewhere on this form).
It is understood that the northern border of the property is adjacent to another
potential mine operator, Max Steininger, Inc. Steininger is currently permitting
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I herby certify that:
• The information contained in this document is accurate and complete to to the
best of my knowledge.
• The EAW describes the complete project; there are no other projects, stages or
components other than those described in this document, which are related to the
project as connected actions or phased actions, as defined at Minnesota Rules,
parts 4410.0200, subparts 9b and 60, respectively.
• Copies of this EAW are being sent to the entire EQB distribution list.
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