EXHIBIT 5 PSC REF#:150055 5-CE-136
3/5/2012Wisconsin (aff) CPCN – Appendix J Public Service Commission of Wisconsin RECEIVED: 06/29/11, 8:51:24 AM
Appendix J: Q1-Highway 35 Route Construction Plan
Hampton Rochester La Crosse 345 kV Transmission Project June 2011 Wisconsin CPCN – Appendix J
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Hampton Rochester La Crosse 345 kV Transmission Project June 2011 Hampton – Rochester – La Crosse Project Q1-Highway 35 Route Black River Floodplain
Proposed Construction Plan
November 8, 2010
The proposed Q1-Highway 35 Route for the CapX2020 Hampton – Rochester – La Crosse Transmission Project would require approximately 14 structures in a two mile crossing of the Black River floodplain. The route lies approximately 400 feet north of Wisconsin Highway 35 (Great River Road). This route is one of several potential routes for a new transmission line.
Xcel Energy, on behalf of the CapX2020 project partners, is leading the development and construction efforts for the CapX2020 La Crosse Project. Xcel Energy is the fourth largest transmission utility in the country in terms of line miles and has transmission operations in nine states. We have vast experience constructing transmission lines in environmentally sensitive areas using specialized methods that minimize environmental impacts. Should the Q1-Highway 35 Route be selected by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW), we are confident that these methods can be utilized to minimize impacts to the Black River floodplain. Specific methods described in this document eliminate the need for concrete, avoid the need for dewatering, do not generate spoils and will not require excavation in wetlands or placing gravel or other fill in wetlands for construction access.
Design Options to Reduce Construction Impacts
Design choices can be made to minimize impacts. Foundation types such as vibratory caissons do not require concrete, do not require dewatering and do not generate spoils from the excavations. We propose to use vibratory caissons through the Black River floodplain if the Q1- Highway 35 Route is selected by the PSCW.
The design of the line through the Black River floodplain utilizes shorter spans (maximum span between structures of approximately 700 ft. (with the exception of two spans of 1,200 ft and 970 ft) than the balance of the project. The shorter spans, in addition to reducing the structure height also reduce the loads to be supported by the structure resulting is structures that weigh less. Shorter and lighter structures reduce equipment (size and strength) requirements minimizing the size and load carrying requirements for the temporary access roads. Shorter and lighter structures also reduce the foundation strength requirements allowing for the use of smaller and lighter equipment for foundation installation. The use of helicopters to assist with the installation of foundations and erection of structures, if necessary, is made more feasible with shorter and lighter structures.
Each of the proposed structures would be double circuit, single shaft tubular steel structures, approximately 75-115 feet tall and supported by steel vibratory caissons. The proposed structure is shown pictorially on the following page. It is anticipated that the vibratory caisson foundations will be 6-7 ft. in diameter and 40-60 ft. in length. The use of concrete foundations and the associated drilling and soil removal within the wetland is not anticipated.
1 Hampton – Rochester – La Crosse Project
Q1-Highway 35 Route Black River Floodplain Structure Design Height and Width
Horizontal Asymmetrical
Height: 75 feet Average ROW Width: 150 feet
Tree Clearing Required: 26.54 acres or 62% of easement area
Total Easement Area: 42.72 acres
November 8, 2010 Hampton – Rochester – La Crosse Project
Q1-Highway 35 Route Structure Type Proposed in Black River Floodplain Structure Type Height ROW Tree Clearing Requirements Total ROW Width Area Acres % ROW Acres Asymmetric 75 150 26.54 62% 42.72 Horizontal
Construction Considerations
The major construction activities for this 2 mile section of the line would be similar to the balance of the project with the following considerations, accommodations and mitigations for constructing electrical transmission facilities in an extensive, floodplain wetland.
Based on our review of the corridor, access to each structure location is possible via ground based equipment. However in the event that current conditions prove difficult for access the Construction Plan may be altered to consider helicopter access to some areas.
Pre-Construction Field Activities – Ground access to each of the structure locations is required prior to construction to conduct surveying and staking and a geotechnical investigation (soil borings). Surveying and staking is normally performed by a 2-man survey crew using pickup or 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles following existing roads and trails and causing little to no impact. In wetland areas and adjacent to waterways, various types of boats or rafts are often used, also causing no impact.
Six to eight soil borings will be required within the wetland to determine the soil strength properties needed for foundation design. In all locations, soil borings will be conducted with a low impact, all-terrain, track-mounted drill rig causing minimal impact. These soil borings can also be scheduled to be performed during the winter to further minimize disturbances.
For locations with restricted access, small, modular drilling equipment that can be disassembled transported by helicopter to the site and reassembled may be used.
Construction Access Routes – Existing access and proposed temporary access routes are shown on the attached mapping. Construction access methods through the Black River floodplain will be planned to minimize ground disturbance and may include, but are not limited to: construction mats, winter access which includes mowing and snow removal to facilitate soil freezing, low ground pressure equipment, and restricting the length and width of the access route. These techniques may also be combined (for example, low ground pressure equipment driving on construction mats place over frozen soil.) Our experience and that of other utilities demonstrates that winter access and matting techniques result in no rutting or damage to plants.
Temporary fill, gravel or rock is not anticipated for access to any of the sites in the Black River floodplain. Upon completion of construction, all construction matting used for access routes and
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