Orono Substation Expansion - Enviromental Assessment (1)

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1 Energy Facility Permitting Scoping Decision Document PUC Docket No.E002/TL-11-223 opportunity to share or parallel existing railroad rights-of-way, minimizes transportation crossings, and minimizes impacts to the Baker Park Nature Preserve.' PURPOSE ' Xcel Energy indicates in its route permit application that the proposed project is intended to improve local and system reliability,reduce the risk of overloads, and allow for additional load growth in the future. REGULATORY BACKGROUND A high-voltage transmission line route permit application for the project was filed by Xcel Energy on June 7, 2011, and accepted by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission)on June 30, 2011. The route permit will be reviewed under the alternative review process,pursuant to the Power Plant Siting Act(Minnesota Statues 216E)and Minnesota Rules ' 7850.2800 to 7850.3900. Under the alternative permitting process the Commission has six months from the date the application was accepted as complete to make a decision on the route permit. SCOPING PROCESS Scoping is the first step in the process after application acceptance. The scoping process has two primary purposes: 1)to ensure that the public has a chance to participate in determining what routes and issues are studied in the EA, and 2)to help focus the EA on the most important issues surrounding the route permit decision. This scope identifies potential human and environmental issues that will be addressed in the EA. The scope also presents an anticipated schedule of the environmental review process. Public Scoping Meeting EFP staff held a public information and environmental assessment scoping meeting on August 10, 2011, at the Orono City Hall in Orono, Minnesota. The meeting provided members of the public an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and the state's high-voltage transmission line route permitting process,review the applicant's route permit application, ask questions,provide comments, and identify potential impacts and route alternatives to be considered in the scope of the environmental assessment. Approximately seven members of the public attended the meeting. A court reporter was present at the public meeting and transcribed questions asked and comments made by the public, as well as responses from EFP staff and Xcel Energy. In total, 'Xcel Energy,Northern States Power Company Application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for a ' Route Route Permit—Orono Substation Replacement and New 115 kV Transmission Line Project,Appendix G, June 7,2011. eDocket 20116-63311-08 2 of 9 1