DNR seeks comments on EAW for tenant farmer’s house removal at Charles A. Lindbergh State Park

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting comments through Sept. 22 on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet to address the removal of the tenant farmer’s house at Charles A. Lindbergh State Park in Little Falls, Minnesota.

The DNR is proposing to dismantle the structure and remove the debris to eliminate a public safety hazard. The structure is a safety hazard because of its state of disrepair and proximity to popular park attractions and amenities. The building has been subjected to ongoing deterioration because of its vacancy since 1986 and water infiltration through the damaged roof.

The DNR owns and maintains more than 600 historic resources across the state, including more than 20 historic districts. With the current funding the department receives, there are limited opportunities to address all the needs. The department works to prioritize these efforts but often needs to make difficult decisions. The DNR is working with the State Historic Preservation Office to finalize a mitigation plan for the removal of the structure. The original stone and mortar foundation may remain onsite as an interpretive feature. After removal of the structure, ground cover onsite will be revegetated to turf/lawn and landscape, consistent with the surrounding area of the park.

The structure was the home of an early 1900s tenant on the farm owned by Congressman Charles A. Lindbergh, namesake of the park and father of the famous aviator. The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Charles A. Lindbergh State Park and Lindbergh House Historic District.

A copy of the EAW, including project details, potential impacts and permit requirements, is available online on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/input/environmentalreview/tenant-farmers-house-removal). A hard copy may be requested by calling 651-259-5694.

The EAW is available for public review at:

• DNR Library, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul
• DNR Central Region Headquarters, 1200 Warner Road, St. Paul
• Hennepin County – Minneapolis Central Library, Government Documents, Second Floor, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
• Kitchigami Regional Library, 212 Park Ave., Pine River
• Carnegie Library, Great River Regional Library System, 108 NE Third St., Little Falls

The EAW notice was published in the Aug. 23 EQB Monitor (eqb.state.mn.us/eqb-monitor-volume-46-number-34), a publication of the Environmental Quality Board.

Written comments on the EAW may be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, to the attention of Kathy Metzker, EAW project manager, Environmental Policy and Review Unit, DNR Ecological and Water Resources Division, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155‐4025.

Email comments may be sent to environmentalrev.dnr@state.mn.us with “Tenant Farmer’s House” in the subject line. Providing the commenter’s name and mailing address would allow the DNR to follow up with any questions as needed. 

People who provide a mailing address or submit comments via email will receive a copy of the decision document, which includes responses to comments. Because all comments and related information are part of the public record for this environmental review, commenters’ names and email or postal addresses will be published and publicly available as they appear in the materials they submit.