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The Louis Berger Group, Inc., has completed archaeological monitoring of Survey Areas 4, 5, and 7 for the Minnesota Trunk Highway 55 project in southeastern Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The work was performed under contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT Agreement No. 79688; S.P. No. 2725-53). The monitoring was done to ensure (a) that no pre-contact occupation or burial archaeological deposits were present in the construction corridor in Survey Areas 4 and 5, (b) that no archaeological deposits associated with the U.S. Army bivouac Camp Coldwater (1820-1821), the civilian Camp Coldwater Settlement (1821-1840), or Dakota use of the area as a burial area were present in Survey Areas 4 and 5, and (c) that no historic burials were present in Survey Area 7, on land reserved for a Protestant cemetery prior to 1886. The work determined that substantial ground disturbance from construction and demolition of buildings for the Veteran's Administration (1925-1988) had destroyed the native soils in much of Survey Area 4 and confirmed that a wetland was present in the area of the four oak trees identified by the Mendota Mdewakanton Group as the site of Dakota interments. Although intact native soil was present in much of Survey Area 5, no archaeological features and only a few artifacts were found that relate to the Camp Coldwater bivouac or civilian settlement. No evidence of a cemetery was identified in Survey Area 7. Intact soils were present on the slope of Morgan's Mound, but the area to the east was almost entirely disturbed by excavation and filling, probably for construction of current Minnesota C.S.A.H. 62. Survey and evaluation of a wooded area at the east side of Survey Area 5 resulted in the recovery of many artifacts that date to the Camp Coldwater Settlement period and may be associated with either the Antoine Pepin or the Le Rage household. However, this site (designated Site 21HE309) did not include any structural features and the site area is significantly disturbed by logging, borrowing, and erosion. The site, which measures 42 meters north to south by 21 meters east to west, lacks the archaeological integrity necessary to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

The final segment of the upgrading of Trunk Highway 55 (T.H.55) is scheduled for letting in the Spring of 1999. This segment begins immediately South of East 46th Street on Hiawatha Avenue and heads generally south east on new alignment to just south west of Minuteman and Militia Drives near the airport (Figure 1). Segments of the project have been under construction since the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was completed and accepted in 1985 and a Record of Decision was issued. Prior to the Record of Decision, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) specifying agreed upon measures for mitigating impacts to cultural resources was completed with the final signature obtained on April 16, 1984. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has been implementing the terms of the agreement as the segments of the highway have been constructed. The purpose of this report is to review the existing information concerning potential historic properties affected by the T.H. 55 project corridor and to provide answers to the following questions: -Has sufficient information been gathered to determine whether or not archaeological resources or human burials exist within the proposed right-of-way? -What is the likelihood that the four bur oaks located on centerline of the proposed relocation immediately south of station 3+200 mark the location of a sacred Dakota burial site or potential Traditional Cultural Property? In response to concerns that the proposed project may affect the nearby spring at Camp Coldwater, which is already considered a contributing element for the Fort Snelling Historic District, this report also includes an investigation of the spring's potential as a Traditional Cultural Property.

The Louis Berger Group, Inc. has completed a Phase I archaeological survey of a 0.75-mile segment of Trunk Highway 6 North of the Big Fork River Bridge (No. 31001) in northwest Itasca County, Minnesota within Archaeological Region 5n. The proposed project area is located between the north end of the Big Fork River Bridge (No. 31001) and County Highway 14 and includes approximately 5.45 acres of land. No archaeological resources were identified in the project area. No additional archaeological investigations are recommended for the project area. Four structures (two garages, one outhouse, and one cabin) were observed within the proposed project area and were not further evaluated as part of this survey.

This report measures the levels of noise generated by traffic on five different surfaces from 1978-1982. The test area was on I-90 between Brush Creek and the junction of TH 22, west of Albert Lea, Minnesota.

This Environmental Assessment (EA) provides background information for the proposed Willmar Rail Connector and Industrial Access project in the City of Willmar and Willmar Township (page ii). This document includes a discussion of:  Need for the proposed project  Alternatives considered  Environmental impacts and mitigation  Agency coordination and public involvement This EA was prepared as a part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process (42 U.S.C. § 4231 et seq.) and Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) process (M.S. 116D). At the federal level, the EA is used to provide sufficient environmental documentation to determine the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate. At the state level, the EA is used to provide sufficient environmental documentation to determine the need for a state EIS or that a Negative Declaration is appropriate.

This Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was created to update the Environmental Assessment Worksheet for this project. This Environmental Assessment Update provides for new information regarding the action, environmental issues, and mitigation measures since the approval of the EA on October 23, 2009, documents the public and agency involvement process, includes a statement that an EIS is not necessary, and requests a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This document also serves as the Findings of Fact and Record of Decision for this project in accordance with Minnesota Rules part 4410.1700.

This is the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EA W) for the proposed project to construct a full-access interchange at Trunk Highway 52 and 117th Street in Inver Grove Heights and Rosemount, Dakota County, Minnesota. The proposed project also includes construction of an east frontage road, elimination of three direct access points to TH 52, and the relocation of an existing at-grade rail spur to a grade-separated crossing near 138th Street in Rosemount. Mn/DOT will use the comments received in deciding whether there is potential for this project to result in significant impacts to the environment, and whether an environmental impact statement is needed.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) proposes to construct a full access interchange at the above referenced location. In addition to the interchange, the project includes associated local improvements, and the construction of a bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad track at 138th St. and TH 52. Additional information may be found in the EA W, and in the Findings attached to this Negative Declaration.

This Draft EIS documents the impacts associated with the implementation of TH 610/TH 252 in the northwestern suburbs of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area. The proposed project is intended to provide additional capacity across the Mississippi River to alleviate existing and projected congestion and safety problems. The environmental consequences of the project alternatives, including the No-Build alternative, are documented and compared such that a preferred alternative may be selected.

This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) describes the transportation and environmental impacts associated with the termination of easement rights for a one and a half mile segment of the US 53 corridor where it crosses the United Taconite open-pit mine between Virginia and Eveleth, Minnesota. On May 5, 2010, United Taconite (UTAC) and RGGS provided notice to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) that the 1960 easement rights would be terminated. Under the original easement terms, MnDOT must vacate the US 53 easement within three years of notification. In response to the notice, MnDOT requested a seven-year timeframe for relocation of US 53. The two parties have signed an agreement to modify the easement vacation date to May 2017. MnDOT is conducting this project process to make decisions on how to best address the pending termination of easement rights.