The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board will hold a series of public hearings on proposed amendments to rules governing the state's environmental review program. The amendments include a new mandatory environmental assessment worksheet, EIS and exemption categories for shoreland area development, and a new mandatory EIS category for releases of genetically engineered wild rice. Other amendments would streamline a variety of rules related to urban development projects and clarify the meaning of various rule provisions, such as the meaning of cumulative potential effects. The hearing will be February 25, 26, and March 2, 4, 5, 2009. http://www.eqb.state.mn.us/resource.html?Id=19905.