Draft Environmental Impact Statement Monticello to St
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Draft Environmental Impact Statement Monticello to St. Cloud 345 kV Transmission Line PUC Docket No. E002, ET2/TL-09-246 Januray 2010 Monticello to St. Cloud 345 kV Transmission Line Draft Environmental Impact Statement January 2010 Abstract Pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 216E, Great River Energy, and Xcel Energy (the applicants) filed a route permit application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (the commission) on April 8, 2009, for a permit to construct approximately 28 miles of 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line from Monticello to St. Cloud. The Project is designed to increase generation outlet capability and improve regional reliability, and enhance local community reliability. Also included is the construction of one new substation and the modification of the existing Monticello Substation. The commission rules regarding route permits require a number of procedural steps, including public notice, information meetings, a draft and final environmental impact statement (EIS), a public-contested case hearing, and finally a decision by the commission (Minn. Rules 7850.3900). The primary purpose of this draft EIS is to summarize the potential impacts of the Project and help the commission make an informed decision on the best route. The Office of Energy Security (OES) Energy Facility Permitting (EFP) is part of the Minnesota Department of Commerce and is tasked with conducting environmental review of applications for transmission line route permits. The intent of the environmental review process is to inform the public, the applicant, and decision-makers about potential impacts and possible mitigations for a proposed Project. The OES is responsible for developing the EIS for this Project. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND HEARINGS The Office of Energy Security will be holding public information meetings on the Draft EIS on February 9, 2010, at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, in the in Clearwater Town Hall. Comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted until February 19, 2009. Please refer to PUC Docket No. E002, ET2/TL-09-246 in all correspondence. Comments should be sent by e-mail, fax, or U.S. mail to Mr. David Birkholz (contact information below). Comments may also be submitted online at: http://energyfacilities.puc.state.mn.us/publiccomments.html. A copy of this Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be reviewed at the following libraries: Saint Cloud Public Library Monticello Public Library 405 St. Germain Street West 200 West 6th Street Saint Cloud, MN 56301 Monticello, MN 55362 Elk River Public Library Buffalo Library 13020 Orono Parkway 18 NW Lake Boulevard Elk River, MN 55330 Buffalo, MN 55313 Stickney Crossing Library Al Ringsmuth Library 822 Clearwater Center 253 North 5th Avenue Clearwater, MN 55320 Waite Park, MN 56387 A public hearing on the project will also be held as a separate proceeding. The Commission has turned the process over to the Office of Administration Hearings to hold the hearing. A combined public hearing and evidentiary hearing will be held on March 8, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., at the Clearwater Township Hall, Clearwater, Minnesota, and will continue on March 9-12, 2010, as necessary. The hearing will be conducted by Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Beverly Jones Heydinger, who will ensure that the record created at the hearing is preserved and transmitted to the Commission. The ALJ will prepare a report that will include proposed findings of fact and conclusions and a recommendation. Additional sessions may be provided if necessary to hear all interested parties wishing to testify. It is not necessary to attend more than one session to have your input heard and included in the record. All members of the public are welcome to attend any public hearing sessions. FINAL EIS After the comment period, the Office of Energy Security Energy Facility Permitting staff will prepare a Final EIS. The Final EIS will include revisions to the draft as well as staff responses to substantive comments on the draft. The Final EIS is scheduled to be completed by March 19, 2010, and included in the compiled record turned over to the PUC by the ALJ. LIST OF PREPARERS/CONTRIBUTORS David E. Birkholz, Project Manager HDR Engineering, Inc. Supplemental information not contained in the Applications was provided by the Applicant through NRG, Inc. This document can be made available in alternative formats (voice/TTY) by contacting the Minnesota Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT UNIT David Birkholz, Project Manager Energy Facility Permitting Ph. (651) 296-2878 Fax (651) 297-7891 Minnesota Office of Energy Security 85 7th Place East, Suite 500 St. Paul, MN 5501-2198 [email protected] PROJECT OWNERS Xcel Energy Great River Energy Contact: Darrin Lahr Contact: Craig Poorker Address: CapX2020 Address: CapX2020 P.O. Box 9437 12300 Elm Creek Boulevard Minneapolis, MN 55440-9437 Maple Grove, MN 55369-4718 Table of Contents Draft Environmental Impact Statement Table of Contents Summary ........................................................................................................................... S-1 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Project Description ................................................................................................................ 1-5 1.2 Purpose of the Transmission Line ....................................................................................... 1-8 1.3 Project Location ..................................................................................................................... 1-8 1.4 Route Description ................................................................................................................ 1-13 1.5 Route Width .......................................................................................................................... 1-20 1.6 Estimated Project Cost ........................................................................................................ 1-30 2.0 Regulatory Framework ........................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Certificate of Need ................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Route Permit ........................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Environmental Review Process ............................................................................................ 2-2 3.0 Engineering and Operation Design ....................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Transmission Line Conductors ............................................................................................ 3-1 3.2 Transmission Line Structures ............................................................................................... 3-1 3.3 Substations ............................................................................................................................... 3-2 4.0 Construction ........................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Transmission Line and Structures ........................................................................................ 4-1 4.2 Substations ............................................................................................................................... 4-2 4.3 Cleanup and Restoration ....................................................................................................... 4-3 4.4 Maintenance ............................................................................................................................ 4-4 4.5 Underground Options ........................................................................................................... 4-5 5.0 Affected Environment, Potential Impacts, and Mitigative Measures ................... 5-1 5.1 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................... 5-2 5.2 Socioeconomic ........................................................................................................................ 5-6 5.3 Land Use, Zoning, and Planning ....................................................................................... 5-10 5.4 Displacement ......................................................................................................................... 5-16 5.5 Land Based Economics ....................................................................................................... 5-21 5.6 Aesthetics ............................................................................................................................... 5-32 5.7 Parks (city, county, state, and federal) ............................................................................... 5-45 5.8 Trails ....................................................................................................................................... 5-49 5.9 State Wildlife Management Areas/Scientific Natural Areas .......................................... 5-53 5.10 Scenic and Recreational Waterways ................................................................................... 5-57 5.11 National Wildlife Refuge/Waterfowl Production Areas ................................................ 5-63 5.12 Airports .................................................................................................................................