MN Releases Environmental Impact Statement On F-M Flood Diversion Project

The new plan is meant to reduce impacts in Richland County in North Dakota and Wilkin County in Minnesota that, in the original plan, were in the heart of a staging area to hold excess water in times of serious flooding.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) _ Minnesota officials have released a draft environmental impact statement on the revised Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project and say they will decide on a permit application sometime this winter.

The new plan is meant to reduce impacts in Richland County in North Dakota and Wilkin County in Minnesota that, in the original plan, were in the heart of a staging area to hold excess water in times of serious flooding.

A federal judge halted the project because it did not have approval from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The Minnesota DNR will seek public comments on the environmental review until Sept. 27.

A public meeting is scheduled Sept. 13 in Moorhead.

Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney says the report looks positive and he’s hopeful it will lead to a permit.