Via Electronic Filing December 13, 2018 Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20426 Subject: Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2362) Prairie River Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2361) Notice of Intent and Pre-Application Document Dear Secretary Bose: Minnesota Power (MP or Applicant), a subsidiary of ALLETE, Inc., is submitting to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) a Notice of Intent (NOI) to file an application for a new license for the Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2362) and a NOI to file an application for a subsequent license for the Prairie River Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2361). Although these are separate processes, due to the proximity of the Projects to each other, MP plans to conduct them concurrently and use a combined Pre-Application Document (PAD). The combined PAD, also contained in this submittal, has two volumes with the second containing sections of the PAD being filed as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII). The existing FERC licenses for both Projects expire on December 31, 2023. Stakeholders on the attached distribution list may obtain a copy of the NOIs and PAD electronically through FERC’s eLibrary at https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/fercgensearch.asp under docket numbers P-2362 and P-2361 or on MP’s website www.mnpower.com/Environment/Hydro. Distribution of this letter is being done via email if an email address is available, otherwise via U.S. mail. If any stakeholder would like a CD copy of the NOIs and PAD, please contact me. Two paper copies are being sent to Commission Staff in the Office of Energy Projects and Office of General Counsel – Energy Projects as well as a paper copy to the State Historic Preservation Office. In accordance with 18 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §5.5(e) of the Commission’s regulations, the Applicant requests that the Commission designate MP as the Commission’s non-federal representative for purposes of consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. §470f and the NHPA implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 800. In addition, the Applicant requests that FERC designate MP as the non-federal representative for the Project for the purpose of consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the joint agency ESA implementing regulations at 50 CFR Part 402. Our relicensing team looks forward to working with the Commission’s staff, resource agencies, Indian Tribes, local governments, non-governmental organizations, and members of the public, in developing license applications for these renewable energy facilities. If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected] or (218) 725-2101. Sincerely, Nora Rosemore Hydro Operations Superintendent Minnesota Power Distribution List for Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2362) and Prairie River Project (FERC No. 2361) John Jaschke Harvey Thorleifson Executive Director Director Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources Minnesota Geological Survey 520 Lafayette Road North 2609 Territorial Road Saint Paul, MN 55155‐0001 Saint Paul, MN 55114‐1032 [email protected] [email protected] Ian M. Chisholm Sarah Beimers Stream Habitat Program Supervisor State Historic Preservation Office Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Department of 500 Lafayette Road Administration Saint Paul, MN 55155‐4032 203 Administration Building [email protected] 50 Sherburne Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55155 Charlotte W. Cohn [email protected] Hydropower Projects Planner Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Rayna Churchill 500 Lafayette Road Executive Director Saint Paul, MN 55155‐4025 Minnesota Indian Affairs Council [email protected] 161 Saint Anthony Ave. Suite 919 Brad Parsons Saint Paul, MN 55103 Fisheries Section Chief Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Jim Brist 500 Lafayette Road 401 Water Quality Program Saint Paul, MN 55155‐4020 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [email protected] 520 Lafayette Rd. N. Saint Paul, MN 55155 Guy Lunz [email protected] Area Supervisor (Grand Rapids) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Bill Wilde 1201 US‐2 Pollution Control Specialist Grand Rapids, MN 55744 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [email protected] 520 Lafayette Rd. N. Saint Paul, MN 55155 Nancy Stewart [email protected] Water Recreation Consultant Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Melissa Kuskie 500 Lafayette Road Supervisor Saint Paul, MN 55155‐4020 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [email protected] 520 Lafayette Rd. N. Saint Paul, MN 55155 Bryan Dodds [email protected] Director Minnesota Department of Transportation Office Anna Bosch of Land Management Watershed Project Manager 395 John Ireland Boulevard Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Mailstop 630 7678 College Road Saint Paul, MN 55155‐1800 Suite 105 [email protected] Baxter, MN 56425 [email protected] 1 Distribution List for Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2362) and Prairie River Project (FERC No. 2361) Jesse Anderson Nick Chevance Research Scientist Regional Environmental Coordinator Minnesota Pollution Control Agency U.S. National Park Service 525 South Lake Ave 601 Riverfront Drive Suite 400 Omaha, NE 68128 Duluth, MN 55802 [email protected] Randy Thoreson Outdoor Recreation Planner Daniel P. Wolf U.S. National Park Service ‐ Rivers, Trails, & Secretary Conservation Assistance Program & Hydro Minnesota Public Utilities Commission 111 East Kellogg Blvd. 121 7Th Pl East Suite 105 Ste 350 Saint Paul, MN 55101 Saint Paul, MN 55101‐2163 [email protected] [email protected] Bob Komardley Nanette Bischoff Chairman FERC Coordinator, Saint Paul District Apache Tribe of Oklahoma U.S. Army Corps of Engineers P.O. Box 1330 190 5th St East Anadarko, OK 73005 Suite 700 Saint Paul, MN 55101‐1638 Bill Latady [email protected] THPO Bois Forte Band of Minnesota Chippewa Timothy Lapointe 1500 Bois Forte Road Regional Director Tower, MN 55790 U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Regional blatady@boisforte‐nsn.gov Office 5600 West American Blvd Cathy Chavers Suite 500 Chairman Bloomington, MN 55437 Bois Forte Band of Minnesota Chippewa [email protected] 5344 Lake Shore Drive Nett Lake, MN 55772 Nick Utrup cchavers@boisforte‐nsn.gov Hydropower Coordinator U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Virginia Richey 4101 American Blvd East THPO Minneapolis, MN 55425 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes [email protected] P.O. Box 167 Concho, OK 73022 Peter Fasbender vrichey@c‐a‐tribes.org Field Supervisor U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Green Bay Field Office Eddie Hamilton 2661 Scott Tower Dr Governor New Franken, WI 54229‐9565 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma [email protected] P.O. Box 38 Concho, OK 73022 2 Distribution List for Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2362) and Prairie River Project (FERC No. 2361) Margaret Sutton Norman Deschampe THPO Chairman Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Indians P.O. Box 167 P.O. Box 428 Concho, OK 73022 Grand Portage, MN 55605 [email protected] Kevin DuPuis Chairman Mary Ann Gagnon Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa THPO 1720 Big Lake Road Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Indians Cloquet, MN 55720 P.O. Box 428 [email protected] Grand Portage, MN 55605 [email protected] Jill Hoppe THPO Joseph Wildcat Sr Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa President 1720 Big Lake Road Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Cloquet, MN 55720 Indians [email protected] P.O. Box 67 Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538 Reginald DeFoe Natural Resources Director Melinda Young Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa THPO 1721 Big Lake Road Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Cloquet, MN 55720 Indians [email protected] P.O. Box 67 Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538 Tom Howes [email protected] Natural Resources Manager Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Amy Burnette 1722 Big Lake Road THPO Cloquet, MN 55720 Leech Lake Band (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe) [email protected] 190 Sailstar Drive NE Cass Lake, MN 56633 Andrew Werk Jr. [email protected] President Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Faron Jackson Belknap Reservation of Montana Chairman 656 Agency Main Street Leech Lake Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Harlem, MT 59526‐9455 6530 U.S. Hwy 2 Northwest [email protected] Cass Lake, MN 56633 [email protected] Michael Blackwolf THPO Doug Cox Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Chairperson Belknap Reservation of Montana Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin 656 Agency Main Street P.O. Box 910 Harlem, MT 59526‐9455 Keshena, WI 54135 [email protected] 3 Distribution List for Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2362) and Prairie River Project (FERC No. 2361) David Gringon Samantha Odegard THPO THPO Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Upper Sioux Community of Minnesota P.O. Box 910 5722 Travers Lane Keshena, WI 54135 P.O. Box 147 [email protected] Granite Falls, MN 56241 THPO@uppersiouxcommunity‐nsn.gov Melanie Benjamin Chief Executive Terrence Tibbetts Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Chairman 43408 Oodena Drive White Earth Nation Onamia, MN 56359 P.O. Box 418 White Earth, MN 56591 Natalie Weyaus THPO Jaime Arsenault Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe THPO 43408 Oodena Drive White Earth Nation Onamia, MN 56359 P.O. Box 418 [email protected] White Earth, MN 56591 Kevin R. Dupuis Dale Adams President Mayor Minnesota Chippewa Tribe City of Grand Rapids P.O. Box 217 1806 Fraser Drive Cass Lake, MN 56633 Grand Rapids, MN 55744 [email protected] Kade Ferris THPO Dale Anderson Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Director of Parks & Recreation P.O.