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5.a Staff Report Meeting Date: 10/6/2009 Agenda Item: ) Planning Commission/ City Council Agenda Report City of Scandia 14727 209th St. North Scandia, MN 55073 (651) 433-2274 Action Requested: Select a Planning Commissioner to serve on the Zavoral Mine and Reclamation Project EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) Project Advisory Committee (PAC). Deadline/ Timeline: Committee appointments tentatively to be finalized at the October 20, 2009 City Council meeting. Background: • As part of the process or for preparation of the EIS, the City Council is appointing a PAC. It will be advisory in nature and will provide for a shared understanding of the environmental review process and the information developed or used as part of that process. A description of the PAC, its mission and its role in the EIS is attached. • The PAC will have up to 12 members: 1 Planning Commissioner, up to 6 agency representatives, and up to 5 interested citizens (who might be individuals or group representatives.) The PAC will be supported by a technical committee composed of the consultant team, staff and representatives of the proposer. Recommendation: The Planning Commission should recommend one of its members to serve on the PAC. Attachments/ • PAC Description Materials provided: Contact(s): Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator (EIS PAC PC member) Page 1 of 1 09/30/09 4f„,* A ml ti tt e s o t a Zavoral Mine and Reclamation Project Environmental Impact Statement Project Advisory Committee The Zavoral Mine and Reclamation Plan Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") Project Advisory Committee ("PAC") is being established by the Scandia City Council to facilitate an open exchange of information and to obtain input on the EIS analyses and mitigation measures as they are developed. The PAC will be advisory in nature and shall be comprised of no more than 12 people. The PAC will include 1 Scandia City Planning Commission representative; up to 6 agency representatives such as the Carnelian- Marine-St. Croix Watershed District and National Park Service-St. Croix National Scenic Riverway; and up to 5 interested property owners or representatives of interested groups. These 5 members will be selected by the City Council pursuant to an application and selection process that may include interviews. The PAC will be moderated by Trudy Richter of Richardson, Richter and Associates, Inc., a member of the AECOM consultant team retained by the City to prepare the EIS. The PAC will be supported by a technical committee including representatives of the Tiller Corporation, Sunde Engineering (Tiller's technical consultant), the AECOM consultant team, and City staff. The PAC will engage in open, purposeful, and transparent discussions so that there is a shared understanding of the environmental review process and the information developed or used as part of that process. The PAC will meet 4 times during the EIS process, which is estimated to take approximately 12 months. The City plans to hold the first meeting during the work week in late October or early November from 4:00-6:00 pm. The agenda for the first meeting is to provide introductions, discuss roles and responsibilities, provide an overview of the EIS process, and provide an historical perspective as well as general background information on the proposed mining activities. This first meeting will be followed by two meetings focused on technical issues as information is developed during the preparation of the EIS, including hydrogeology, water resources, other environmental, economic, and social issues, and potential mitigation measures. The fourth meeting will be for the Committee to review and comment on the draft EIS. If you want to be on the PAC, you are invited for to attend a site visit that is being held on September 30, 2009 at 4:00 pm. We will meet at Scandia City Hall. Applications for participating on the Committee are due in the City offices by 4:00 pm October 6, 2009. The application can be downloaded from the City's website at www.ci.scandia.mn.us and are available at City Hall. Appointments will be made by the City Council, tentatively at its October 20, 2009 meeting.