XCEL ENERGY APPLICATION TO THE MINNESOTA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD FOR A ROUTE PERMIT BUFFALO RIDGE - WHITE 115 KV TRANSMISSION LINE AND THE YANKEE SUBSTATION ALTERNATIVE PERMITTING PROCESS EQB DOCKET NO. 04-84-TR-XCEL AUGUST 10, 2004 EQB Docket No. 04-84-TR-XCEL TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Project Summary ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Eligibility for the Alternative Permitting Process ............................................................ 1 1.2 Notice to the EQB ...............................................................................................................6 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1 Statement of Ownership of the Proposal ......................................................................... 7 2.2 Certificate of Need Process Summary............................................................................... 7 2.3 Project Location.................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Project Proposal.................................................................................................................. 11 2.5 Project Schedule.................................................................................................................. 11 2.6 Project Costs ....................................................................................................................... 12 3.0 Engineering Design, Construction And Right-of-Way Acquisition........................................ 13 3.1 Transmission Line .............................................................................................................. 13 3.1.1 Transmission Structures and ROW Design...................................................... 13 3.1.2 Design Options to Accommodate Future Expansion..................................... 21 3.1.3 Identification of Existing Utility and Public Rights-of-Way........................... 21 3.1.4 Right-of-Way Acquisition.................................................................................... 22 3.1.5 Transmission Construction Procedures ............................................................ 23 3.1.6 Restoration Procedures........................................................................................ 25 3.1.7 Maintenance Procedures...................................................................................... 25 3.2 Substations........................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.1 Design Options to Accommodate Future Expansion..................................... 25 3.2.2 Property Acquisition, Construction, Restoration and Maintenance Procedures.............................................................................................................. 26 3.2.3 Substation Property Acquisition Procedures .................................................... 27 3.2.4 Substation Construction Procedures.................................................................. 27 3.2.5 Substation Restoration Procedures .................................................................... 28 3.2.6 Substation Maintenance Procedures .................................................................. 28 3.3 Electric and Magnetic Fields............................................................................................. 28 3.3.1 Electric Fields ........................................................................................................ 28 3.3.2 Magnetic Fields...................................................................................................... 30 3.3.3 Stray Voltage.......................................................................................................... 31 4.0 Environmental Information ........................................................................................................... 33 4.1 Route Description .............................................................................................................. 33 4.2 Route and Substation Site Selection Process.................................................................. 34 4.2.1 Route Selection Process....................................................................................... 34 4.2.2 Substation Selection Process ............................................................................... 39 4.3 Description of Environmental Setting ............................................................................ 40 4.4 Human Settlement.............................................................................................................. 40 4.4.1 Public Health and Safety...................................................................................... 40 4.4.2 Commercial, Industrial, Residential Land Use.................................................. 41 4.4.3 Displacement......................................................................................................... 41 Page i August 2004 EQB Docket No. 04-84-TR-XCEL 4.4.4 Noise....................................................................................................................... 42 4.4.5 Aesthetics ............................................................................................................... 45 4.4.6 Socioeconomic ...................................................................................................... 46 4.4.7 Cultural Values ...................................................................................................... 49 4.4.8 Recreation .............................................................................................................. 50 4.4.9 Public Services....................................................................................................... 50 4.4.10 Potential Impacts .................................................................................................. 51 4.5 Land-Based Economics..................................................................................................... 51 4.5.1 Agriculture.............................................................................................................. 51 4.5.2 Forestry................................................................................................................... 53 4.5.3 Tourism .................................................................................................................. 53 4.5.4 Mining..................................................................................................................... 54 4.6 Archaeological and Historic Resources........................................................................... 55 4.7 Natural Environment......................................................................................................... 56 4.7.1 Air Quality.............................................................................................................. 56 4.7.2 Water Quality......................................................................................................... 56 4.7.3 Flora........................................................................................................................ 59 4.7.4 Fauna....................................................................................................................... 60 4.8 Rare and Unique Natural Resources................................................................................ 63 4.8.1 Potential Impacts .................................................................................................. 64 4.8.2 Mitigative Measures .............................................................................................. 65 5.0 Agency Involvement, Public Participation and Required Permits and Approvals................. 67 5.1 Agency Contacts .................................................................................................................67 5.1.1 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.................................................. 67 5.1.2 Minnesota SHPO.................................................................................................. 67 5.1.3 USFWS ................................................................................................................... 67 5.1.4 Tribal Groups........................................................................................................ 68 5.1.5 Minnesota Department of Agriculture .............................................................. 68 5.1.6 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency ................................................................ 68 5.2 Public Participation ............................................................................................................68 5.2.1 Information Meetings........................................................................................... 68 5.2.2 The Nature Conservancy..................................................................................... 69 5.2.3 Identification of Land Owners ........................................................................... 69 5.3 Required Permits and Approvals ..................................................................................... 69 5.3.1 Local Approvals 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