Cannon Falls Data Center AUAR
July 22nd, 2025
Today the AUAR for the Cannon Falls data center was published in the EQB Monitor:
Cannon Falls Industrial AUAR
Scroll down to find the link to the “Revised AUAR” and here it is, all 216mb (I’m trying to reduce it, will probably have to break it up):
Comments are separated out, Comments are in Appendix H, pps. 380 to the end at 454, and their responses precede that in Appendix G.
And I have to admit, I had a little fun with them in an afterthought, in addition to ripping the AUAR in specificity:
Report on Immigration Detention in Florida
July 21st, 2025
In case the links don’t work in the pdf, here’s a direct link — it’s important because this report does a thorough job of documentation:
“You Feel Like Your Life is Over”
Abusive Practices at Three Florida Immigration
Detention Centers Since January 2025
Talon’s Tamarack EAW filed, DNR version next
July 16th, 2025
Talon has filed it’s version of the Tamarack Mining Project EAW, and what happens next is the DNR takes that, reviews and revises it, makes it more complete hopefully, and THEN it’s open for public comment.
It’s confusing, the MN Dept. of Natural Resources permitting and environmental review process when compared with the Public Utilities Commission’s process that I’m steeped in. I had to check with the DNR as it made no sense to me. So I asked around, I did, and got this response with these details:
The DNR’s webpage is up to date; the proposed Tamarack Mining Project is currently early in the scoping phase of the environmental impact statement (EIS) process. The June 23rd environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) document you referenced is an EAW data submission by Talon Nickel. During EIS scoping, the DNR requests that the project proposer (Talon Nickel) submit information to the DNR in the EAW form; we call these “data submittals”. The DNR reviews the data submittal for completeness and if incomplete, returns the EAW data submittal for corrections along with comments. You can view the DNR’s comments from previous EAW data submittals on the DNR’s Tamarack Mining Project webpage under the Other DNR documents section. This step can include several rounds of back and forth between the DNR and the project proposer to obtain the necessary information.
While the EAW data submittals are available for the public to view, they are not open to public comment. Once the DNR determines that the EAW data submittal is complete, the DNR will develop and publish a DNR-version of the EAW, called a scoping EAW, along with a draft scoping decision document (containing the proposed scope of the EIS) for public review and comment for a minimum of 30 days. The public review period will also include at least one public meeting. These documents will be formally noticed in the EQB Monitor and published on the DNR’s Tamarack Mining Project webpage under the Scoping EAW and draft scoping decision document section.
The March 20th Lands and Minerals news release you referenced is regarding an exploration plan that Talon Nickel submitted to the DNR to continue nonferrous mineral exploration on state leases in Aitkin and Carlton counties. This exploration plan is different than Talon Nickel’s proposed Tamarack Mining Project that is currently undergoing environmental review (described in the previous two paragraphs).
To be kept informed of the environmental review process for the proposed Tamarack Mining Project, I suggest signing up for email updates. By signing up you will receive updates on any new environmental review project documents available for public viewing, quarterly updates, and notice of formal comment periods. General information about the state’s environmental review process can be found on the Environmental Quality Board website.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Best,
Caroline
Caroline Oswald (she/her)
Project Manager | Environmental Review Unit
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-259-5655
Email: caroline.oswald@state.mn.us
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Here’s their Environmental Assessment Worksheet:
ALJ Recommends denial of Allete sale
July 16th, 2025
In a rare recommendation of denial:
Here’s the recommendation for your reading enjoyment:
The application was filed on July 19, 2024 — it took just a few days shy of TWO YEARS to get to this point.
OAG-RUD’s briefs are always enlightening:
RESTORE NOAA & FEMA FUNDING!
July 6th, 2025
Funding withheld, funding cuts, staff layoffs… what could go wrong? Let’s see… Intense flooding in Texas, in New Mexico too… and all the tornadoes recently, even de Recho wind in northern MN… more flooding anticipated in North Carolina and surrounds from Tropical Storm Chantal.
Texas Flood Live Updates: At Least 59 Dead As Trump Signs Major Disaster Declaration
And after the disaster hits, how to recover?
The Trump administration says it wants to eliminate FEMA. Here’s what we know
Right…




