The Nelson Mine Backwaters Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is open for comments, now through Oct. 28. Prepared for the City by Barr Associates Inc. on behalf of Amrize Midwest, publication of the Nelson Backwater Mine FEIS follows a Final Scoping Decision Document in May 2022 as well as a Draft EIS last year.
Viewable on the city website at https://www.cottagegrovemn.gov/598/Nelson-Mine-Backwaters-Project-EIS, official publication of the FEIS took place Tuesday, Oct. 14 in Volume 49, Number 41of the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) Monitor, accessible at https://www.eqb.state.mn.us/eqb-monitor.
Divided into eight main sections with six appendices, the FEIS for the Nelson Mine Backwaters Project can be commented on by readers via two formats:

1) By email to eis@cottagegrovemn.gov

2) By mail to:
Ms. Emily Schmitz
Community Development Director
12800 Ravine Parkway South
Cottage Grove, MN 55016

Conceived to mine sand and gravel alluvium off the southeast end of Lower Grey Cloud Island in Pool 2, the Nelson Mine Backwaters Project seeks to extend mining on Lower Grey Cloud Island after projections indicate that material at the present mine will be exhausted in just a few short years.
Alternatives to the project site as covered in the FEIS include Lake Baldwin on the other side of Lower Grey Cloud as well as a site in Coates, which would involve a larger overall footprint. The site as proposed off Lower Grey Cloud Island would involve mining an approximately 230 acre area in Pool 2 over a time period of 14-20 years and would allow Amrize to continue use of its mechanical dredge, processing facilities and barge system to supply the local Twin Cities market with sand and gravel for construction quality natural aggregate.
The Baldwin alternate site keeps many of the same abilities as the Nelson Backwater Mine site with regards to dredge and barge capability.
Another alternative would involve a reduced mining scale at the Nelson site with 10 to 20 years of mining viability. Alongside the three mine alternatives in the FEIS is another, the consequences of doing nothing, included in the FEIS as Alternative A.
Now out for comment, the Cottage Grove City Council is scheduled to determine the adequacy of the Nelson Mine Backwaters Project FEIS on Nov. 5.