MEPA Glossary: Key Terms & Definitions for Developers and Consultants

MEPA Key Terms & Definitions

Alternatives: Options or courses of action that are considered in the environmental review process as potential ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the environmental impacts of a proposed project. The consideration of alternatives is a key requirement under MEPA (Minn. Stat. § 116D.04, Subd. 2a).

Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW): A brief document that is used to determine whether a proposed project has the potential for significant environmental effects and whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is needed (Minn. Stat. § 116D.04, Subd. 1a(c)).

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): A detailed document that analyzes the significant environmental impacts of a proposed project, considers alternatives, and discusses mitigation measures. An EIS is required for projects that have the potential for significant environmental effects (Minn. Stat. § 116D.04, Subd. 2a).

Environmental Quality Board (EQB): The state agency responsible for implementing and overseeing the environmental review process under MEPA (Minn. Stat. § 116D.03, Subd. 2).

Governmental Action: An activity, including projects and programs, wholly or partially conducted, permitted, assisted, financed, regulated, or approved by governmental units (Minn. Stat. § 116D.04, Subd. 1a(d)).

Mandatory EAW Categories: Specific types of projects or activities that are required to undergo an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) due to their potential for significant environmental effects (Minn. R. 4410.4300).

Mandatory EIS Categories: Specific types of projects or activities that are required to undergo an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) due to their potential for significant environmental effects (Minn. R. 4410.4400).

Mitigation: Measures taken to avoid, minimize, or compensate for the adverse environmental impacts of a proposed project (Minn. Stat. § 116D.04, Subd. 2a).

Negative Declaration: A written decision by the responsible governmental unit that a proposed project does not have the potential for significant environmental effects and does not require an EIS (Minn. R. 4410.1700, Subp. 7).

Permitting Decisions: Decisions made by governmental units on whether to grant approval or permits for a proposed project. Under MEPA, final governmental decisions must not be made until the environmental review process is complete (Minn. Stat. § 116D.04, Subd. 2b).

Phased Action: Two or more projects to be undertaken by the same proposer that a RGU determines: (1) will have environmental effects on the same geographic area; and (2) are substantially certain to be undertaken sequentially over a limited period of time (Minn. R. 4410.0200, Subp. 60).

Positive Declaration: A written decision by the responsible governmental unit that a proposed project has the potential for significant environmental effects and requires an EIS (Minn. R. 4410.1700, Subp. 7).

Project Proposer: The person or governmental unit that proposes to undertake or direct the undertaking of a project (Minn. R. 4410.0200, Subp. 68).

Record of Decision (ROD): A written document that states the responsible governmental unit's decision on the proposed project, including the specific statutory considerations that were made (Minn. R. 4410.2800, Subp. 4).

Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU): The governmental unit that is responsible for preparation and review of environmental documents (Minn. Stat. § 116D.04, Subd. 1a(e)).

Scoping: The process of identifying the potential significant environmental impacts and alternatives to be addressed in an EIS (Minn. R. 4410.2100).

Scoping Decision: A written decision issued by the responsible governmental unit at the end of the scoping process that specifies the issues and alternatives to be addressed in an EIS (Minn. R. 4410.2100, Subp. 6).

Significant Environmental Effects: Changes in the environment that result from a proposed project and have the potential to affect the environment, human health, or quality of life (Minn. R. 4410.0200, Subp. 81).

Silica Sand: A fine-grained quartz sand that is widely used for industrial applications and has specific environmental review requirements under MEPA (Minn. Stat. § 116C.991-116C.994).

Silica Sand Project: Any excavation or mining of silica sand; washing, cleaning, screening, crushing, filtering, drying, sorting, stockpiling, and storing of silica sand, either at the mining site or at any other site; hauling and transporting of silica sand; or a facility for transporting silica sand to destinations by rail, barge, truck, or other means of transportation (Minn. Stat. § 116C.99, Subd. 1(d)).

Tiered EIS: An EIS that is related to an earlier EIS and incorporates by reference the discussion in the earlier EIS and concentrates on issues specific to the current project (Minn. R. 4410.2000, Subp. 4).

Third-Party Consultant: A consultant hired by the responsible governmental unit to assist in the preparation of an EAW or EIS (Minn. R. 4410.2100, Subp. 7).

Threshold: The quantitative or qualitative level of a specific environmental effect at which point an EIS is required (Minn. R. 4410.0200, Subp. 89).