The environmental impact of the proposed Minnesota Speedway Park would be extensive. Noise, light and traffic pollution are obvious. Fewer people may realize the implications for one of Minnesota’s prized trout streams: the Vermillion River.
The proposed track is extremely close to the start of the Vermillion. The land has a swamp and outlet that flow into the river (stream at that point). This development’s proximity to the Vermillion River water shed may affect the water quality and trout habitat down stream.
This map shows the location of the proposed track and pinpoints the Vermillion in relation to the land on which IMEDC already has purchase agreements.
This will likely be one of the issues identified in the Environmental Impact Statement, a review required by the National Environmental Protection Act, to be conducted in the coming months. It is important to note that this study is a high level review that simply identifies the potential environmental issues. As stated in the Wikipedia source linked above: “Contrary to a widespread misconception, NEPA does not prohibit the federal government or its licensees/permittees from harming the environment, but merely requires that the prospective impacts be understood and disclosed in advance.”
The Scott County Board of Commissioners discussed the hiring of an engineering firm to conduct the environmental review at its meeting on December 13. This matter will move ahead once an application has been submitted by IMEDC. Following the completion of a scoping phase and the full EIS, the city will do an informal review of the study’s findings and make recommendations for addressing environmental concerns, however, it will be IMEDC’s discretion whether or not to act upon those recommendations. Given the company’s interest in the development, one might question its objectivity in responding to environmental concerns raised in the EIS.
(Thanks to Joe Deutsch for the background and Google map.)
No MN Speedway Park 