1999-03-16 EAW Review
Civ" Engineering
Land Surveying
Lclnd Planning
lohn Oliver & Associates, Inc.
5.0 Dodge A"eJlue, Elk Ri"er, MN 55330
(612) 441-Z01Z . FCJX: 441-5665
March 16, 1999
Ms. Linda Goeo, City Administrator
City of Albertville
PO Box 9
Alhertville, MN 55301
Re: ALBERTVILLE CROSSING - EA W
Dear Ms. Goeb:
Vole have prepared responses to the comments received regarding the Environmental Assessment
Worksheet (EA W) prepared for the referenced project. Each comment letter is referenced separately
listing each issue raised by the agency responding. We hope that you find this helpful in your
decision during the Council meeting scheduled for April 5, 1999.
Mr. Eric Kilberg. Minnesota Pollution Control Ag~ncv
Response to question on Item 8: We agree. A Section 401 Certification will need to be obtained
along with the Corps of Engineers 404 permit for wetland alterations. We also agree that an Indirect
Source permit (ISP) is not required.
Response to question on Item 12: The current site and grading plan shows that all of the wetland
mitigation is proposed on-site. The storm water ponds are not considered as wetland replacement.
The type I wetlands impacted on this site are degraded wetlands with little to no value. Avoidance
of these wetlands would only isolate them, further decreasing their value. Sequencing will be
demonstrated as part of the wetland alteration permit process, as required.
Response to question on Item 18: The detention/sedimentation basin is located in Outlot A adjacent
to Mitigation Area No.1. The current site plan shows an additional detention/sedimentation pond
located adjacent to the large wetland in Outlot C. The detention basins have been adequately sized
to contain the additional runoff generated by a 100-year storm with discharge rates equal to the
existing condition rates. The sedimentation ponds have been adequately sized to comply with the
NPDES General Storm Water Permit requirements and the MPCA's Best Management Practices,
Section 4.1 DetentionPonds requirements.
All storm water runoff will be treated prior to discharging into any wetland areas.
Response to question on Item 23 : We agree.
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Page 2
March 16, 1999
Ms. Linda Goeb, City Administrator
Me. Thomas Balcom. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Response to General Comments: As part of the wetland alteration permit process, sequencing
requirements will be followed. The permit application will be reviewed by the proper agencies as
required by Wright Soil Conservation District, (the LGU), and its Technical Evaluation Panel.
Response to question on Item 10: Based upon the current site and grading plan, all of the wetland
mitigation is proposed to be on-site. This eliminates the need for additional mitigation areas.
Response to question on Item 11 a: Based upon the field observations during the wetland delineation,
the intermittent stream was noted through the large wetland area. The headwater of this stream
is approximately 300 feet north of the site. Area to the north drains towards School Lake and the
intermittent stream drains toward the south into an existing city storm sewer system. To suggest that
this stream has the potential to be a source offorage fishes and spawning grounds for Northern Pike
is an over-reaction and unrealistic. Erosion control devices and practices will be utilized as
recommended in MPCA's "Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas", Best Management Practices
for all improvement work proposed for this project.
Response to question on Item 12: All storm water detention and sedimentation basins will be
designed to function with the mitigation areas. Storm water ponds adjacent to wetlands can be
irregularly shaped.
In summary, we believe the comments that have been received have merit in the final design process
and certainly need to be addressed. We do not believe that these comments are significant enough
to require that an EIS be prepared for this project.
Sincerely,
JOHN OLIVER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
~~
Todd W. McLouth, PE
cc: Eric Kilberg, MPCA
Thomas Balcom, MNIDNR
Marly Glines, Cascade II
File: 7701.10-05
Len...Wbenville Crossing.OJ 15