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Public comment saught on NCT development project environmental review

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Kate Lemon

North Country Trail enthusiasts are encouraged to contribute public comment on the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) that the Minnesota DNR has just completed for the NCT development project in Becker County, MN. The document, figures, and attachments are available online and public comments will be accepted until August 25th.

Here is an excerpt from the DNR’s website…

The proposed project

The North Country Trail Association proposes to build 25.6 miles of new trail and designate 19.3 miles of existing trail and rural road-walk as an extension of the North Country National Scenic Trail (a non-motorized footpath). This section of the trail would begin about six miles west-northwest of Ponsford, Minnesota, in east-central Becker County, and terminate at the city limits of Frazee, Minnesota. The trail connects to a previously designated section of the North Country NST at its northern end and traverses southward, mostly through forested habitat on public and private lands.

Send comments

Written and signed comments on the EAW must be received by Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 4:30 p.m.

By mail:

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Division of Ecological Resources, Box 25
Attn: Ronald Wieland
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4025

Electronically:

Send to Environmentalrev.dnr@state.mn.us. “North Country Trail (Becker) EAW” must be included in the subject line. Include your name and mailing address so that you can be added to the mailing list.

By fax:

Submit signed comment letters by fax to (651) 297-1500.

Questions

Please call (651) 259-5157 if you have questions about this EAW.

If you have questions about the project, feel free to contact Matthew Davis at (701) 388-1883 or via email at davis@northcountrytrail.org. Note: This is the second EAW that the NCTA will have developed with the DNR to satisfy the requirements of state grants that will be used to hire the Conservation Corps of Minnesota/Iowa to construct the trail. The last one (completed in 2008) covered the completion of the NCT in Hubbard and Clearwater Counties and the extension into Becker County.