1997-11-06 EAW Responses
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MEYER-ROHLIN, INC.
ENGINEERS-LAND SURVEYORS 1111 Hwy. 25N., Buffalo, Minn. 55313 Fax612-682-9492
Phone 612-682-1781 1-800-563-1781
November 6, 1997
Mr. Garrison Hale
City Administrator
City of Albertville
5975 Main Avenue Northeast
Albertville, MN 55301
Dear Mr. Hale:
The following are the responses to the comment letters received after review of the Environmental
Assessment Worksheet (EA W) for the Cedar Creek project published in the EQB Monitor September 22,
1997. Letters were received from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR), Minnesota
Depmtment of Health (MDH), and Minnesota Historical Society.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Comment: The County Ditch Authority should be listed in the "Permits and Approvals Required" section
because use of County Ditch #9 as a stormwater outlet may require an outlet fee and permit.
Response: The city has proposed to take over jurisdiction of the ditch within the city limits of Albertville.
It is anticipated that approvals relating to the ditch would be obtained as part of the city's
approval process.
Comment: The assertion that the site contains no fishery resources is incorrect. Project-generated runoff
must be properly pretreated and managed before it enters County Ditch #9.
Response: The proposed grading and drainage plan for this project ensures that all project-generated
runoff is routed into a water quality/detention pond before it is outlet into either County Ditch
#9 or existing or mitigated wetland area. The fishery resources comment should be changed to
read "There may be the presence of several minnow species located in County Ditch #9,
however these species should not be disturbed by project-generated runoff because all runoff
will be properly pretreated before it enters County Ditch #9".
Comment: There is concern that relocating County Ditch #9 will reduce or eliminate existing natural
resources. Development should conform as much as possible to the existing landform and
natural drainages should not be altered.
Response: The "relocating" of County Ditch #9 does not include altering existing runoff patterns or
reducing existing drainages. While the developed condition includes routing runoff through
storm sewer and water quality/detention ponds before entering County Ditch #9, there are no
changes in drainage patterns of surface water runoff.
Comment: A DNR Water Appropriation Permit will be required for any activity that appropriates 10,000
gal/day or 1,000,000 gal/yr. The permit numbers given in the EA Ware incorrect. The correct
number is 79-3116.
Response: A DNR Water Appropriation Permit is in the process of being submitted. The permit will be for
a golf course irrigation well. As was stated in the EA W, the well will be a backup irrigation
water source as the main source will be an onsite pond associated with the drainage system.
Thore P. Meyer, Professional Engineer Robert Rohlin, Licensed Land Surveyor
Page 2
November 6, 1997
City of Albertville
Comment: Detention ponds should be heavily vegetated, and maintenance and retention of natural buffer
between the golf course, ponds, and residential area is recommended. It is also recommended
that runoff quantity-based measures be incorporated to those areas that drain to the School Lake
watershed.
Response: All ponds are designed using standard, accepted shaping techniques including a bench or
"buffer" which separates the ponds from surrounding land uses. The project contract will also
include an item for seeding, much of which will go toward the water quality/detention ponds
and mitigated wetlands.
Comment: Fluctuation in discharge and runoff rates to the stormwater storage areas in the project shall be
limited to lessen the negative effect on fish and invertebrates.
Response: The proposed storm water drainage system acts as a regulating device for storm runoff.
Discharge from water quality ponds to detention ponds occurs at a designed rate which keeps
the runoff at a constant level during rainfall events. The developed condition of storm runoff,
therefore, has less fluctuation than the unregulated pre-developed condition.
Minnesota Department of Health
Comment: Any new well proposed for the project must be installed by a licensed well contractor. The well
must also be equipped with an approved backflow prevention device.
Response: The proposed well, to be used as a secondary irrigation source for the golf course, will be
installed by a licensed well contractor and shall include the appropriate approved backflow
prevention device.
Comment: There is a minimum setback distance of 50 feet between a well and any buried municipal
sanitary sewer line, and 20 feet between a well and any buried storm sewer line greater than one
foot in dimneter.
Response: The proposed utility plan for the Cedar Creek project locates the new irrigation well 55 feet
from a buried sanitary sewer line and 350 feet from a buried 12" storm sewer line.
Comment: All buried sewer lines must maintain a distance often feet from any buried watermain lines.
Response: It is standard practice to maintain a separation of at least ten feet between water and sanitary
sewer lines and this practice is proposed for the Cedar Creek project as well.
Comment: A field well inventory is recommended to identify any existing wells and to ensure that all
isolation distances from existing wells are met.
Response: Existing wells are not known to exist on the project site. A survey of past land owners of the
project site, as well as a visual inspection confIrmed that there are no existing active, unused, or
unsealed wells on the project site.
Minnesota Historical Society
No relevant comments were made by this agency.
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Page 3
November 6,1997
City of Albertville
Response to the agencies making relevant comments, the MnDNR and MDH, is made by copy of this
letter.
The 30-day comment period after EQB publication of the EA W expired on October 22, 1997. The next
step is for the City (acting as Regulatory Government Unit) to determine if an Environmental Impact Study
(EIS) is required.
Please proceed with this and if you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
MEYER-ROHLIN, INC.
~ hLJk.
Scott Dahlke
Professional Engineer
cc: Don Jensen - Pilot Land
MnDNR
MDH
File 97139 EAW